Recent Articles

In The Know: McGirt decision expanded to Choctaw, Seminole reservations | Looking at school funding impacts | Maintaining virus vigilance

Choctaw, Seminole reservations recognized by Oklahoma appeals court; A closer look at Oklahoma’s move to alter education funding and make student transfers easier; COVID-19 metrics much better in Oklahoma, but rises in other states signal warning to maintain vigilance; Well-designed paid family and medical leave programs assist working families. [More...]

Weekly Wonk: The need to revisit SQ 640 | Foot dragging over Medicaid expansion | A SoonerCare success story | More

SQ 640 continues limiting lawmakers, needs to be revisited; Happy Birthday ACA! And what federal COVID relief means for your health care; A SoonerCare success story; Policy Matters: Foot dragging over Medicaid expansion; Countdown to Care [More...]

In The Know: Medicaid support from federal relief bills | Vaccination to be open to all 16 and over | Epic repayment deadline passes

Oklahoma getting ‘a significant amount’ more in Medicaid money from federal relief bills; Oklahomans 16 and over will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine starting Monday; Chickasaw Nation’s COVID-19 response helped lower infection rates, tribal expert tells Congress; State Board of Education’s deadline for $11.2 million repayment by Epic Charter Schools passes with no payment. [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Tax cuts would hurt local business, cut public services | Fixing court fines and fees | Countdown to Medicaid Expansion

Want to reduce Oklahoma’s public services, hurt local business, and shrink our economy? Eliminate the corporate income tax; Policy Matters: State revenue cuts are not pro-business; Fixing Oklahoma’s court fines and fees problem (Capitol Update); Countdown to Medicaid Expansion [More...]

OK Policy Statement: Half-billion dollars in corporate and individual tax cuts is irresponsible, shortsighted and dangerous

It’s been just three years since Oklahoma lawmakers passed a historic $531 million in additional state revenue to support education. On Thursday, the Oklahoma House approved a sweeping set of corporate and individual tax cuts that undoes that historic achievement… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Support Oklahoma families and keep them healthier | Texas tax envy | More

Improve our social insurance programs to encourage work and support working families; Legislators must protect Oklahomans’ health care; Policy Matters: Everything is bigger in Texas, including tax burdens; Oklahoma’s children need funding to recover from the COVID-19 crisis. [More...]

In The Know: Legislators can protect health care in Oklahoma | Everything is bigger in Texas, including tax burdens | More

Legislators must protect Oklahomans’ health care; Everything is bigger in Texas, including tax burdens; A bill to roll back aspects of Oklahoma criminal justice reform advances; Oklahoma virus deaths increased to conform with CDC count. [More...]

Weekly Wonk: SB 704 can reduce Oklahoma’s incarceration rate | Supporting thriving families | Recommitting to higher ed funding

SB 704 would be step towards reducing Oklahoma’s incarceration rate (Capitol Update); Together Oklahoma Talks Policy: Thriving Families; Policy Matters: State must recommit to higher education funding. [More...]

Weekly Wonk: OK’s higher ed cuts among nation’s Top 3 | TogetherOK presents policy talks | Rethinking ‘tough on crime’

Oklahoma among worst states for higher education cuts; Together Oklahoma Talks Policy: Healthy Oklahomans and Safe Communities; (Capitol Update) Lawsuit challenges OHCA’s managed care proposal; Policy Matters: Rethinking Oklahoma’s ‘tough on crime’ approach to justice; Virtual Day of Action, March 4 [More...]

Oklahoma among worst states for higher education cuts, harming students who already face the greatest barriers

Even before COVID-19 brought new challenges to state education systems, a new report out this week shows that Oklahoma was one of 6 states that cut higher education funding by more than 30 percent between 2008 and 2019: Oklahoma cut higher education allocations by 35.3 percent, or $3,515, per student in 2019 when compared with a decade earlier. Oklahoma had the nation’s third largest percentage decrease in state higher education funding during that period, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report released Feb. 17.  [More...]