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
June 23, 2020 // Updated: October 8, 2020
As the June 30th primaries approach, we already know that the 2020 elections will look very different than 2018. Here are five things we know about the upcoming races and their implications within the Oklahoma Legislature. [More...]
By: David Blatt
February 21, 2020 // Updated: December 18, 2025
Section 1115 Medicaid waivers, or 1115 waivers, are waivers from federal Medicaid law intended to give states an avenue to test new approaches in Medicaid that differ from what is required by federal statute.
Section 1115 of the Social Security… Read more [More...]
The Pinnacle Plan was developed and implemented by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) to reform the state’s child welfare system. The plan, announced in July 2012, emerged out of a settlement agreement reached in a federal class action… Read more [More...]
The balanced budget requirement is accomplished by limiting appropriations for seven funds, of which the General Revenue Fund is by far the largest, to no more than 95 percent of certified revenue estimates for the upcoming year. [More...]
By: David Blatt
December 18, 2019 // Updated: August 18, 2023
SoonerCare is the name for Oklahoma’s Medicaid program operated by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. See Medicaid/Soonercare for more information,… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
November 6, 2019 // Updated: November 6, 2019
Rather than tilting at windmills with a legally questionable approach that poses serious threats for the state’s Medicaid population, our state should focus on tried and tested ways of improving access to care and health outcomes for Oklahomans. [More...]
By: David Blatt
November 1, 2019 // Updated: November 24, 2025
The Oklahoma Board on Legislative Compensation is a constitutionally-created Board that has the exclusive authority to set compensation for members of the Oklahoma Legislature. The Board is made up of five members appointed by the Governor and two members appointed… Read more [More...]
By: David Blatt
October 15, 2019 // Updated: December 1, 2025
Public charge is a term used by U.S. immigration officials to refer to a person who is considered primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or institutionalization for… Read more [More...]
TSET is an endowment trust established with payments from the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between 46 states and the tobacco industry.
In November 2000, with passage of State Question 692, Oklahoma became the first and only state to direct… Read more [More...]
OKPOLICY.ORG
As the June 30th primaries approach, we already know that the 2020 elections will look very different than 2018. Here are five things we know about the upcoming races and their implications within the Oklahoma Legislature. [More...]
Rather than tilting at windmills with a legally questionable approach that poses serious threats for the state’s Medicaid population, our state should focus on tried and tested ways of improving access to care and health outcomes for Oklahomans. [More...]
I can honestly say that being part of this organization for 12 years, and leading it for the past ten, has been the great honor of my life. [More...]
