Author: Matt Simmons

Does the death penalty cost more than it’s worth? (Guest Post: Matt Simmons)

Matt Simmons is a former OK Policy intern. He recently completed his MA in American history at the University of Tulsa, and he is currently pursuing a PhD in history at the University of Florida. He can be found on… Read more [More...]

Punishments & Profits: The private prison money trail

This post was written by former OK Policy intern Matt Simmons. Matt recently completed his MA in American history at the University of Tulsa, and he is currently pursuing a PhD in history at the University of Florida. He can… Read more [More...]

Punishment & Profits: A cost-benefit analysis of private prisons

This post was written by OK Policy intern Matt Simmons. Matt recently completed his MA in American history at the University of Tulsa. He will be enrolling in the history PhD program at the University of Florida this fall. He… Read more [More...]

Punishment and Profits: A brief history of private prisons in Oklahoma

This post was written by OK Policy intern Matt Simmons. Matt recently completed his MA in American history at the University of Tulsa. He will be enrolling in the history PhD program at the University of Florida this fall. He… Read more [More...]

Wide range seen in legislative session grading (NewsOK)

The Oklahoman Editorial Grading school districts and individual schools is a controversial state policy that occupied some of the time of legislators in the 2013 session. As for grading how wisely legislators spent their time this session, report cards are… Read more [More...]

Making it stick: Oklahoma’s divorce rate remains high (Tulsa World)

By Julie Delcour, Tulsa World In 1999, during a garden gala outside the governor’s mansion, Gov. Frank Keating unveiled plans for an ambitious project, the No. 1 family issue of his second term.  Keating’s goal was to cut the state… Read more [More...]

Social safety net, opportunity in decline, symposium speakers say (Tulsa World)

By Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World  Oklahomans tend to be more into gun shows and individual responsibility than seminars on race relations, wealth inequality and holes in the social safety net. That makes the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation’s annual… Read more [More...]

Another quality Oklahoma Policy Blog piece (JCO)

Mike Connelly, JCO We regularly laud the OK Policy Blog as a jewel among the policy-oriented blogs for any state. In a “good government” state and/or a fair world, the whole staff would be driving Beemers and on their third… Read more [More...]

Governor Fallin’s misleading tax cut (OK Politechs)

By Charles M. Phipps, OK Politechs I don’t agree with much at all of what the Oklahoma Policy Institute puts out, but their information about the recent tax cut legislation passed by the Oklahoma legislature and signed into law by… Read more [More...]

School spending should actually fund reforms (NewsOK)

The Oklahoman Editorial Over the past few years, school officials have repeatedly decried the education reforms that they claimed were unfunded. This year, schools are getting a not-insignificant budget increase. As lawmakers provide it, they should ensure the money actually… Read more [More...]