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
May 5, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In mid-April, State Finance Director Preston Doerflinger sent a letter to state agency directors alerting them to “the possibility of a revenue failure declaration for Fiscal Year 2014… following unusually weak General Revenue Fund (GRF) collections in February and March.”… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 29, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
See also our Tax Reform information page and Budget and Taxes page for resources on other Oklahoma tax issues
Reports and Fact Sheets
1-page Table on Gross Production Rates under HB 2562 and Old Law (June 2015)
NEW: Fact Sheet… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 23, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Earlier this month, some 50,000 Oklahoma third-graders came head-to-head with high-stakes testing. These 8- and 9-year old children took the state standardized reading test known as the OCCT. Under revisions to the Reading Sufficiency Act passed in 2011, beginning this… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 22, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
For Oklahoma’s elected officials looking to increase funding for education, the sensible solution can be found right under our feet. By doing away with what has become an increasingly unnecessary and unaffordable tax break, every school district and every school… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 16, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Download the TogetherOK fact sheet: SoonerCare Cuts Threaten Oklahoma’s Health
Just prior to the start of the legislative session we ran a blog post titled “Avoiding devastating health care cuts will require hard choices.” Two-and-a-half months later, as legislative leaders… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 14, 2014 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Twice a year, the seven members of the State Board of Equalization – six statewide elected officers and the Secretary of Agriculture – get together to certify how much revenue the legislature will have to appropriate for the upcoming fiscal… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 9, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
A decade ago, following the overwhelming defeat of a referendum to boost state taxes on motor fuels, supporters of increased transportation funding hit on a new approach. In 2005, the legislature approved HB 1078, creating the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 8, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
A new poll finds that Oklahoma voters strongly support eliminating tax breaks for horizontal drilling in order to provide more funding for education, public safety, highways, and other state needs.
Nearly two-thirds of voters (64 percent) oppose providing tax breaks… Read more [More...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Blatt
918-859-8747918-859-8747 (cell)
Poll: Voters Favor Eliminating Tax Break for Horizontal Drilling
(Tulsa, OK: April 8, 2014): A new poll finds that Oklahoma voters strongly support eliminating tax breaks for horizontal drilling in order to … Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
April 3, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In making the case against additional funding for public schools, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) has recently asserted that “Oklahoma’s per-pupil revenues – a whopping $12,206 in fiscal year 2013 – are at record levels.” The… Read more [More...]
OKPOLICY.ORG
In mid-April, State Finance Director Preston Doerflinger sent a letter to state agency directors alerting them to “the possibility of a revenue failure declaration for Fiscal Year 2014… following unusually weak General Revenue Fund (GRF) collections in February and March.”… Read more [More...]
Earlier this month, some 50,000 Oklahoma third-graders came head-to-head with high-stakes testing. These 8- and 9-year old children took the state standardized reading test known as the OCCT. Under revisions to the Reading Sufficiency Act passed in 2011, beginning this… Read more [More...]
For Oklahoma’s elected officials looking to increase funding for education, the sensible solution can be found right under our feet. By doing away with what has become an increasingly unnecessary and unaffordable tax break, every school district and every school… Read more [More...]
Download the TogetherOK fact sheet: SoonerCare Cuts Threaten Oklahoma’s Health
Just prior to the start of the legislative session we ran a blog post titled “Avoiding devastating health care cuts will require hard choices.” Two-and-a-half months later, as legislative leaders… Read more [More...]
Twice a year, the seven members of the State Board of Equalization – six statewide elected officers and the Secretary of Agriculture – get together to certify how much revenue the legislature will have to appropriate for the upcoming fiscal… Read more [More...]
A decade ago, following the overwhelming defeat of a referendum to boost state taxes on motor fuels, supporters of increased transportation funding hit on a new approach. In 2005, the legislature approved HB 1078, creating the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and… Read more [More...]
A new poll finds that Oklahoma voters strongly support eliminating tax breaks for horizontal drilling in order to provide more funding for education, public safety, highways, and other state needs.
Nearly two-thirds of voters (64 percent) oppose providing tax breaks… Read more [More...]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Blatt
918-859-8747918-859-8747 (cell)
Poll: Voters Favor Eliminating Tax Break for Horizontal Drilling
(Tulsa, OK: April 8, 2014): A new poll finds that Oklahoma voters strongly support eliminating tax breaks for horizontal drilling in order to … Read more [More...]
In making the case against additional funding for public schools, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) has recently asserted that “Oklahoma’s per-pupil revenues – a whopping $12,206 in fiscal year 2013 – are at record levels.” The… Read more [More...]
