Recent Articles

‘Three-bill Monte’: Lawmakers fail transparency test, advance absentee voter barriers 

Statement, attributable to OK Policy Executive Director Ahniwake Rose:  The Oklahoma House on Wednesday played ‘three-bill monte’ with legislation that would keep many Oklahomans from voting safely. The legislative changes, made just minutes before floor debate began, appeared to be… Read more [More...]

Lawmakers moved absentee voter requirements to SB 210 – Your voice is still needed

Lawmakers on Wednesday moved proposed new absentee voter requirements into a different bill SB 210, which was previously an unrelated bill until today’s amendment. The change was made less than an hour before the House session convened. The House had… Read more [More...]

Statement: SB 1779 would introduce unneeded barriers to voting, invite lawsuits

Just a day after the Oklahoma Supreme Court removed barriers to absentee voting, the Oklahoma Legislature is quietly advancing a bill to make it harder to vote by mail. The Oklahoma House will consider SB 1779 as soon as Wednesday.… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Absentee ballot notarization requirement struck down; Legislature unveils budget proposal; and more

Supreme Court strikes down notary requirement for absentee ballots; Legislature reveals FY 2021 budget proposal; Incarcerated individuals considered for medical release due to pandemic. [More...]

Statement regarding Legislature’s FY 2021 budget proposal

Statement from Ahniwake Rose, Executive Director for Oklahoma Policy Institute:  Given the extraordinary financial challenges facing Oklahoma, we commend the Legislature for putting together a budget that protects many of Oklahoma’s core services while retaining savings that can be used… Read more [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: A call for officials to cooperate; medical parole would protect communities, and more

Cooperation needed to navigate uncharted waters; Medical parole is necessary to help protect Oklahoma prisons and hospitals from COVID-19; Broadband is more important than ever in Oklahoma. [More...]

In The Know: Mask requirement brings physical threats; some businesses begin reopening; lawmakers, Gov. remain at odds on budget

'Education will receive a cut,’ but Legislature wants input on Stitt’s federal money; some Oklahoma businesses re-open; Stillwater drops mask requirement after businesses threatened. [More...]

In The Know: Gov. defends reopening plan; looking at virus’ impact on Medicaid expansion efforts, and more

Oklahoma governor defends plan to reopen businesses; Tulsa preps to restart after Stitt declaration, but city's top health official concerned premature openings could create surge amid inadequate testing; [More...]

In The Know, Sunday: Gov. asks for virus to be declared ‘Act of God’; reopening plans get mixed reactions; and more

Gov. Stitt asks for virus to be declared 'Act of God'; Tulsa's top health official concerned premature openings could create surge; COVID-19 fallout should renew debate over municipal funding. [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Reopening Oklahoma: a time for courage, not expediency; outbreak could be devastating for jails; and more

Reopening Oklahoma: A time for courage, not expediency; County jails in Oklahoma face immense risk from COVID-19; Finding an upside of recent budget battle.   [More...]