Former Executive Director David Blatt joined OK Policy in 2008 and served as its Executive Director from 2010 to 2019. He previously served as Director of Public Policy for Community Action Project of Tulsa County and as a budget analyst for the Oklahoma State Senate. He has a Ph.D. in political science from Cornell University and a B.A. from the University of Alberta. David has been selected as Political Scientist of the Year by the Oklahoma Political Science Association, Local Social Justice Champion by the Dan Allen Center for Social Justice, and Public Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers.
By: David Blatt
April 4, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In the early 1990’s, faced with health care costs that were rising at unmanageable rates and widespread dissatisfaction with the quality of the state’s Medicaid program, the Oklahoma Legislature created the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) as a stand-alone agency… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 3, 2009 // Updated: October 17, 2012
The Tulsa World penned a strong and persuasive editorial on the voter ID proposal, SB 4, that has now passed both legislative chambers and is now awaiting action by the Governor. Supporters of the legislation try to argue that requiring… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 2, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
A new OK Policy issue brief looks at the federal stimulus funding that is being made available to states that adopt a number of modest reforms to their Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs. As the number of jobless workers claiming UI… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 1, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
This session, OK Policy has been involved with a coalition of organizations and individuals promoting an increase in the Sales Tax Relief credit, commonly known as the grocery tax credit. The existing credit, intended to offset the state sales tax… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 31, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Recently, The Oklahoman criticized OK Policy for our opposition to a proposal under legislative consideration that would waive existing state laws that require insurance companies to provide coverage of basic health benefits as part of any policy for young adults.… Read more [More...]
The OK Policy blog has been a long time coming. As we begin our experiment with what is, for us at least, a new way of communicating with our audiences, we want to let you know why we’re doing this… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 30, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
The AP reported Thursday that Oklahoma’s budget shortfall could potentially take another $65 million hit as a result of tax provisions that were included as part of the federal stimulus bill passed by Congress in February. The stimulus bill, or… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 27, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
On Tuesday, Governor Henry convened the second meeting of the 15 member American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Coordinating Council, which brings together Cabinet Secretaries and agency directors with primary responsibility for implementing the myriad provisions of the stimulus bill… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 26, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
On Thursday, April 2nd, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services is hosting a lecture by Tony Campolo titled “What Role Should the Faith Community Have in Human Services?”. The talk is from noon to 1 p.m. at the Will Rogers… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 25, 2009 // Updated: May 2, 2019
The New York Times has been running a series of front-page Sunday articles examining the impact that the great wave of recent immigration – both legal and illegal – is having on various sectors and institutions. This week’s piece explored… Read more [More...]
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