Recent Articles

Statement: We thank Gov. Fallin for vetoing expansion of predatory lending

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to Governor Mary Fallin’s veto of HB 1913, a bill that would have allowed a new form of very high-cost lending: By vetoing HB 1913, Governor Fallin has prevented the expansion… Read more [More...]

How would you fix the budget?

Oklahoma lawmakers have just a few more weeks to balance the state budget. Their budget decisions are deeply important for Oklahomans’ lives, yet with so many budget needs and revenue proposals flying around, it can be hard for the average voter to… Read more [More...]

Itemized deduction reform is a promising state budget solution

When Oklahomans filed their state income taxes in 2016, more than 70 percent of households used the standard deduction, which was $6,300 for individuals and $12,600 for married couples filing jointly. The remaining households itemized their deductions, adding up deductions for mortgage… Read more [More...]

Statement: HB 1913 creates unnecessary, abusive loans; Gov. Fallin should veto

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to the Legislature’s passage of HB 1913: It is very disappointing that the Legislature has approved HB 1913. This bill was ​drafted ​and lobbied aggressively by the payday loan industry​. By… Read more [More...]

A new way to get our action alerts

Events can move fast in the Oklahoma Legislature, especially in the last weeks of May just before adjournment. New bills or amendments – or even the entire state budget – can be introduced and rushed through before constituents have much… Read more [More...]

New report brings lessons of Oklahoma history to modern budget challenges

Oklahoma is a young state. In the 110 years since statehood — only about four generations of people — we’ve gone through good years and bad, through oil booms and busts, through the Dust Bowl and the long recovery. Many… Read more [More...]

Lessons of Our History, Part 3: Oklahoma can invest in our communities with smart policy choices

[Download the full report as a pdf.] << Go back to Part 2: Our challenge for today The good news is that Oklahoma does have the resources to reinvest in our communities, but we need to make responsible policy choices… Read more [More...]

Lessons of Our History, Part 2: Our challenge for today

[Download the full report as a pdf.] << Go back to Part 1: What we’ve accomplished as a state These examples from our history shows that Oklahomans can come together to solve big problems through state government. From humble origins… Read more [More...]

Lessons of Our History, Part 1: What we’ve accomplished as a state

[Download the full report as a pdf.] << Go back to the introduction In a time when our political debates tend toward increasingly extreme rhetoric, it’s easy to get the impression that government has always been dominated by infighting and… Read more [More...]

Lessons of Our History: Oklahoma’s past accomplishments teach us how to build a better budget and a better future

Oklahoma’s past contains big successes arising from public investments. In our relatively short history as a state, we've put an end to dust bowls, brought health care to our children, and made big improvements to public schools — and we have solutions to reinvigorate these common goals today. Read more... [More...]