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
February 4, 2015 // Updated: May 1, 2019
On Monday, Governor Mary Fallin delivered her State of the State address and FY 2016 Executive Budget. Her speech emphasized the need to address hurdles in the areas of education, health, and criminal justice that are impeding the state’s progress.… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
January 30, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Presentation by OK Policy Executive Director David Blatt to the 2015 State Budget Summit, January 29, 2015
Download the presentation (PDF)
Oklahoma’s Budget Outlook: Confronting the Fiscal Gap by dblattok… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
January 28, 2015 // Updated: August 18, 2023
A shell bill is a bill that is introduced at the beginning of the legislative session with little or no substantive language. Shell bills are intended to serve as placeholders for legislative proposals to be filled in later. Shell bills… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
January 27, 2015 // Updated: May 2, 2019
As we look ahead to next year’s state budget, one thing is for certain: it’s going to be a very rocky ride.
Last month, the Board of Equalization certified $298 million less revenue for next year’s budget than was appropriated… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
January 26, 2015 // Updated: August 18, 2023
State aid represents the funds that are appropriated by the State Legislature for school districts, and distributed by the State Department of Education through the State Aid Formula.
State aid is based on three categories: foundation aid, incentive aid, and… Read more [More...]
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a tax credit that subsidizes work for low-income families. The EITC is the nation’s largest cash or near cash assistance program after the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). Together with the Child Tax… Read more [More...]
A revolving fund is a fund of a specific government agency or entity that collects revenues from fees and other sources and supports expenditures of that agency or entity. The balances of the fund carry over from one year to… Read more [More...]
Oklahoma’s motor vehicle taxes are a combination of an excise (sales) tax on the purchase of a vehicle and an annual registration fee in lieu of ad valorem (property) taxes. Until 2017, motor vehicles were fully exempt from the sales… Read more [More...]
Oklahoma’s corporate income tax is set at a flat rate levied upon the taxable income of every corporation doing business within the state or deriving income from business within the state. The rate has historically been set at 6 percent,… Read more [More...]
Striking title is a common procedural maneuver in the Oklahoma Legislature. It is used especially on bills that impact the state budget or bills that are considered to be works-in-progress.
The Oklahoma Constitution requires that every bill contain a concise… Read more [More...]
OKPOLICY.ORG
On Monday, Governor Mary Fallin delivered her State of the State address and FY 2016 Executive Budget. Her speech emphasized the need to address hurdles in the areas of education, health, and criminal justice that are impeding the state’s progress.… Read more [More...]
As we look ahead to next year’s state budget, one thing is for certain: it’s going to be a very rocky ride.
Last month, the Board of Equalization certified $298 million less revenue for next year’s budget than was appropriated… Read more [More...]
