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 21, 2025 // Updated: February 21, 2025
In every state, children between certain minimum and maximum ages are subject to compulsory attendance laws, and are deemed truant if they miss one or more days of school for unexcused reasons. Truancy is related but distinct from chronic absenteeism,… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
October 14, 2023 // Updated: November 4, 2025
The effective date of a bill is the date upon which it actually becomes law, which is usually specified in the last section(s) of the legislation. Some bills specify different effective dates for different sections of the bill. The effective… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
October 7, 2023 // Updated: August 24, 2024
A filibuster is a political procedure in which one or more members of a legislative body prolong debate, or threaten to prolong debate on a legislative measure, so as to delay or prevent a vote being taken.
In the United… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
September 30, 2023 // Updated: November 26, 2025
The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, passed as HB 1934 during the 2023 legislative session, provides tax credits to parents who send their children to private school, as well as a tax credit for homeschooled students. Several amendments to… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
September 23, 2023 // Updated: November 10, 2025
The Housing Choice Voucher Program (also known as Housing Choice Voucher Program Section 8) is the nation’s largest housing assistance program. Under the program, eligible recipients receive housing vouchers that they can use to rent apartments or homes from participating… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
September 16, 2023 // Updated: October 17, 2025
The Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution that aims to constrain federal spending by various means, including prohibiting annual federal outlays from exceeding receipts.
BBA legislation has been introduced regularly in Congress since… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
January 18, 2023 // Updated: October 28, 2025
A concurrent resolution is a measure passed by both legislature chambers to express facts, principles, opinions, wishes and purposes of the legislature. Concurrent resolutions are also used to memorialize the president, congress, cabinet members or federal agencies on a certain… Read more [More...]
A joint resolution is a resolution passed by both houses of the legislature which, if signed by the Governor, has the force and effect of law. Some Oklahoma case law suggests that joint resolutions may only be used for temporary… Read more [More...]
Oklahoma allows straight-party voting, also known as straight-ticket voting, in general elections. Straight-party voting enables a voter to select one political party’s complete slate of candidates for every office by making a single mark on his or her ballot. Oklahoma… Read more [More...]
The individual income tax, or personal income tax, is Oklahoma’s largest single revenue source for state government. Oklahoma first levied an income tax in 1915. The top income tax rate has been cut repeatedly since the late 1990s, and most… Read more [More...]
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