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 1, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
A key component of the Affordable Care Act’s efforts to expand access to health insurance is providing federal funds to extend Medicaid to all adults making less than 138 percent of the federal poverty limit. With the Supreme Court’s ruling… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 27, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
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Changes in Oklahoma’s education system in recent years are just the latest in a long line of reforms going back decades. As we debate this latest batch of reforms, some important questions… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 20, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Last week, the House passed HB 1552 by Rep. Mark McCullough, R-Sapulpa. Inspired by Florida’s Medicaid managed care program, the bill would move the entire statewide Medicaid population, including seniors and persons with disabilities who are receiving long-term care, into… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 13, 2013 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Oklahoma lawmakers are considering a proposal, HJR 1011, that would change the state constitution to lower the amount by which legislative appropriations can grow from one year to the next. After looking at state spending patterns in recent years, it’s… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 6, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Extending health coverage to more uninsured people through Medicaid is at the core of the Affordable Care Act’s efforts to ensure access to affordable health insurance for millions of Americans. Currently in Oklahoma, nearly fifty per cent of low-income adults… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 5, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
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System is Far From ‘Broken’ and is Ready to Handle Expansion
Accepting federal dollars to extend Medicaid would provide substantial economic benefits to Oklahoma, save the state millions of dollars that now… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
March 4, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Last year’s monumental tax debate was marked by a slew of competing proposals to reduce and potentially abolish the state’s personal income tax. Some of the plans tried to make up for some or all of the lost revenue by… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
February 26, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In her 2013 State of the State address, Governor Mary Fallin reiterated her opposition to accepting federal dollars to provide coverage to uninsured Oklahomans through Medicaid, as provided under the Affordable Care Act. In states that extend Medicaid, the federal… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
February 14, 2013 // Updated: February 14, 2013
These are my remarks to Oklahoma Policy Institute’s 5th anniversary dinner and award ceremony at Cain’s Ballroom on January 30, 2013. Melvin Moran and Robert LaFortune were honored with the OK Policy Good Sense/Good Cents award. For the event program,… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
February 7, 2013 // Updated: May 2, 2019
On Monday, Governor Mary Fallin delivered her State of the State address and presented her FY 2014 Executive Budget. As we noted in our public statement, the Governor has proposed much more modest tax cuts than she did last year… Read more [More...]