Author: Forrest Farjadian

Oklahoma’s Tax System Called “Unfair”

By Marshall Stewart Results from a new study claim Oklahoma’s tax system is unfair to the great majority of its’ citizens. The report, from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, finds low and middle-income Oklahomans pay over two times… Read more [More...]

Low, Middle Income Oklahomans Pay Highest Taxes (Edmond Sun)

By Mark Schlachtenhaufen Low and middle-income Oklahomans pay more than two times more in taxes as a percentage of their income compared to the state’s wealthiest residents, a new study finds. On Wednesday, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma’s Tax “Trigger” Equals Budget Perils (Duncan Banner)

By Kenneth Wells On April 15, 2012, in a blog by Oklahoma Policy Institute, Gene Perry wrote about the blindness of both our governor and legislature to set in law an automatic one-quarter percent Income Tax Deduction, to be “triggered”… Read more [More...]

What Was the Biggest Oklahoma Health Story of 2014? (The Oklahoman)

By Jaclyn Cosgrove “While Ebola grabbed the headlines, there was both good news and bad news that impacted more people’s lives in Oklahoma. One example of good news, as a result of multiple partners working together, our infant mortality rate… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma’s Top 10 News Stories for 2014 (CapitolBeatOK)

By Patrick McGuigan From the Capitol Beat, a perspective on the top state policy news stories of the year that was.   The Oklahoma economy remains, despite emerging signs of severe stress for the oil and gas industry, the Sooner State’s… Read more [More...]

State Leaders Approve Tax Break for Wealthiest Oklahomans (KFOR)

By Kimberly Querry Oklahoma leaders have approved a measure that would give a tax cut to the wealthiest Oklahomans. According to the memorandum, Senate Bill 1246 would reduce the top individual income tax rate beginning in 2016, if certain revenue… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma Policy Institute Publishes Research Paper on Oklahoma’s Need to Revise Election Laws (Ballot Access News)

By Richard Winger On December 16, the Oklahoma Policy Institute published this 20-page report, “Repairing Oklahoma’s Broken Democracy”, authored by Dr. David Blatt. The Oklahoma Policy Institute is a well-respected 501(c)(3) organization established in 2005. The Report first discusses voter… Read more [More...]

State Wins Affordable Care Act Grant (Oklahoma Watch)

By Warren Vieth The Obama administration announced Tuesday it had chosen Oklahoma to receive a grant of up to $2 million to develop innovative models for delivering health care. The award is significant because it represents a rare departure from… Read more [More...]

ScissorTales: Statistics Tell Interesting Story (The Oklahoman)

By The Oklahoman Editorial Board The Oklahoma Policy Institute does a marvelous job gathering and analyzing information. Its crunching of numbers on state finances is a valuable tool for journalists, policymakers and the public.  An update is now available for… Read more [More...]

No Excuse for Oklahoma Policymakers not to Pursue Corrections Reform (The Oklahoman)

By The Oklahoman Editorial Board THE Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs and Oklahoma Policy Institute are serious, reputable think tanks with vastly different worldviews. The former champions a conservative, free-market approach to government. It favors tax cuts. OK Policy generally… Read more [More...]