Author: Tyler Parette

Oklahoma finds $100M cash surplus at end of fiscal year (The Oklahoman)

By Rick Green Oklahoma finance officials, concerned over sagging tax revenues, cut spending so much in recent months that the state will end its fiscal year in two weeks with a cash surplus likely to top $100 million. That amounts… Read more [More...]

The state we’re in: Oklahoma’s fractured narrative (Tulsa Voice)

By Barry Friedman In “The White Album,” Joan Didion’s seminal work about how America defines itself, she writes, “We tell ourselves stories in order to live…We interpret what we see, select the most workable of the multiple choices. We live… Read more [More...]

New head of state tobacco trust to earn $250K (The Oklahoman)

By Rick Green  A state agency that manages tobacco settlement money has created a $250,000-a-year job and offered it to someone whose name was not disclosed. By comparison, the governor of Oklahoma makes $147,000 per year. Some have questioned the… Read more [More...]

Payday lenders balk at proposed rules (Journal Record)

By Brian Brus Proposed rules would affect payday lending businesses, like Advance America at 1841 Belle Isle Blvd. in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Brent Fuchs) OKLAHOMA CITY – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s proposed new rules on what the agency… Read more [More...]

“Oh My God—We’re on Welfare?!” (Slate)

By Krissy Clark  You, yes, you, might have used welfare services without knowing it.Digital Vision This article is part of the series “Welfare Reform: 20 Years Later,” a collaboration between Slate and Marketplace. You can listen to Marketplace’s podcast on… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma Lawmakers Fail to Rise to the Challenge (TaxJustice Blog)

By Aidan Russell Davis Oklahoma’s legislative session came to a disappointing end late last week. Legislators now await Gov. Mary Fallin’s signature on a $6.8 billion budget that harms the state’s poorest residents and sets the Sooner State on an… Read more [More...]

Why do welfare funds go to marriage counseling? (Marketplace)

By Krissy Clark Instructors Cynthia Rayford and Scott Roby conduct a marriage counseling class in Oklahoma.  – Krissy Clark Sometimes the things we argue most about are the things we know the least about. That’s the idea behind our new… Read more [More...]

Capitol protesters urge lawmakers to reject budget, better fund schools (KOCO)

By Crystal Price OKLAHOMA CITY —More than 100 parents, students, and educators marched from Douglass High School to the state Capitol on Thursday morning. The group urged lawmakers to scrap the proposed budget and come up with a better plan… Read more [More...]

Protesters continue to rally against state budget cuts, demand change at state capitol (KFOR)

By Ashley Kringen OKLAHOMA – Its summer break for a lot of students but, instead of relaxing, some kids chose to stand up for their education at a rally. Parents and students met at Douglass High School in northeast Oklahoma… Read more [More...]

Lawmakers increase their appropriation while cutting others in state budget (Tulsa World)

By Barbara Hoberock OKLAHOMA CITY — While agencies across the state are taking budget cuts, the Legislature has increased its appropriation, according to a proposal that came out Tuesday. The House, Senate and Legislative Services Bureau will see a combined… Read more [More...]