Author: Kandis West

Kandis West // kwest@okpolicy.org

Kandis West is a communications professional with more than 15 years of experience. Most recently, she served as the Communications Director for the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus. She spent nine years in the Olympia/Tacoma area of Washington organizing compensation campaigns for teachers for the Washington Education Association. Kandis has a proven track record of increasing community engagement, public awareness and media exposure around the most pressing issues that impact citizens. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma Gaylord College of Journalism.

Recent Articles

In The Know: Lawmakers advance LGBTQ Pride display ban | Oklahomans need a REAL ID to fly in 2025 | How immigrants contribute to our economy | Policy Matters: We get what we pay for

By: Kandis West
February 8, 2024 // Updated: February 8, 2024
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support… Read more [More...]

In The Know: State of State address calls for tax cuts, flat budgets, more charter schools | Tribal leaders concerned with speech’s rhetoric | Legislative Black Caucus to combat attacks on diversity | Federal border bill

By: Kandis West
February 6, 2024 // Updated: February 6, 2024
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support… Read more [More...]

In The Know: House approves tax cut down party lines; Senate remains cautious | Low wages make housing unaffordable in Oklahoma | Civil Rights Movement provided blueprint for early childhood education | Big changes in SoonerCare Medicaid

By: Kandis West
February 1, 2024 // Updated: February 1, 2024
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support… Read more [More...]

In the Know: Special session lasts only 15 minutes on Day 1 | Teacher sues Walters, Ed Dept over teacher bonus | Lawmaker pushes for Ten Commandments monument at capitol

By: Kandis West
January 30, 2024 // Updated: January 30, 2024
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Oklahoma is part of a damaging tax-cutting trend | Gov. says AI could replace state workers | State clawing back errant teacher bonuses | Senate to immediately gavel out of Monday’s special session

By: Kandis West
January 25, 2024 // Updated: January 25, 2024
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support… Read more [More...]

In The Know: OK Supreme Court hears arguments on taxing tribal citizens | Families fight ban on gender-affirming care | Should paid leave be added to Oklahoma’s Quality Jobs criteria? | Oklahoma needs solutions, not grandstanding

By: Kandis West
January 18, 2024 // Updated: January 18, 2024
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support… Read more [More...]

Dr. King’s dream of economic freedom (Commentary) 

By: Kandis West
January 13, 2024 // Updated: January 13, 2024
Dr. King understood, then as it is now, that income inequality binds Americans into a cycle of poverty that often becomes generational. Poverty lowers life expectancy as well as educational attainment, which is a predictor of wealth for all races.  [More...]

In The Know: A look inside proposed education budget | Fight for jurisdiction in ‘Indian Country’ continues | Reports reflect Oklahoma’s entrenched disparities | More

By: Kandis West
January 11, 2024 // Updated: January 11, 2024
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Report: Oklahoma’s tax system worsens inequality | Tribes opt out of governor’s McGirt task force | House Speaker says Oklahoma can afford more tax cuts

By: Kandis West
January 9, 2024 // Updated: January 9, 2024
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support… Read more [More...]

In the Know: Oklahoma’s middle class is shrinking | Tribes step up with summer food programs | OG&E rate hike | Rule change by Pardon and Parole board threatens reform

By: Kandis West
January 4, 2024 // Updated: January 4, 2024
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support… Read more [More...]