Recent Articles

Paid family and medical leave is good for families and businesses

Paid family and medical leave policies improve families’ financial outcomes while benefiting rather than harming small businesses. [More...]

Well-designed paid family and medical leave programs assist working families

While paid family and medical leave policies are standard in nearly every country, the U.S. is one of only eight countries in the world (and the only “developed” country) to not guarantee access to paid family and medical leave. However, nine states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation that provides paid family and medical leave to most employees. [More...]

Paid Family and Medical Leave is a crucial step towards modernizing our economy

Despite its benefits, access to paid family leave is not widespread, especially for lower-wage families. To improve Oklahomans’ health and increase the labor force, the Oklahoma Legislature should guarantee paid family leave benefits to our state’s workers. [More...]

Oklahoma’s children need funding to recover from the COVID-19 crisis

If we want Oklahoma’s children to recover quickly from the COVID-19 crisis and grow up to be healthy, thriving adults, then now is the time to increase our investment in the programs that provide the stability that our children need. [More...]

Vape Taxes Aren’t the Answer for Medicaid Expansion

While there are arguments to pass a vape tax as a public health measure, it would likely be an insufficient and unstable way to fund a public program as crucial to our health as Medicaid. [More...]

Census data show Oklahoma still lags nation in poverty rate

Proposed policy solutions • Second federal relief package • Implement Oklahoma’s Medicaid expansion quickly • Enforce federal eviction moratorium • Rent assistance New Census data released today show Oklahoma’s poverty rate remained higher than the national average in 2019 but… Read more [More...]

Undedicated higher education CARES funding should be invested in students’ immediate needs

Colleges and universities should dedicate CARES Act funding to help ensure students have access to necessities such as food and housing. This can significantly reduce the number of students forced to drop out of school due to financial hardship and help secure Oklahoma’s economic recovery in the aftermath of COVID-19. [More...]