Category: Media

Moving the needle on Oklahoma’s youth justice reform

Reimagining Youth Justice in Oklahoma provides an overview of Oklahoma’s youth justice system by detailing the environment that youth in Oklahoma face, synthesizing data and reporting findings on the state of the youth justice system today, and offering recommendations for… Read more [More...]

New Report: Oklahoma enacted one of the five biggest tax cuts for millionaires in 2025

Contact: Dave Hamby (Oklahoma Policy Institute) dhamby@okpolicy.org or Jon Whiten (ITEP) jon@itep.org Oklahoma lawmakers this year passed an income tax cut that, when fully implemented, will be one of the nation’s most significant income tax cuts for millionaires, according to… Read more [More...]

2024 Census data: Oklahoma ranks as 8th poorest state

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, released Sept. 11, show that Oklahoma’s poverty rate was 14.9 percent, which means that more than 1 in 7 state residents live in poverty. While the state’s overall poverty rate… Read more [More...]

Bulldozers won’t solve homelessness (Commentary)

Gov. Stitt wants Oklahomans to believe a police escort and a bulldozer can solve homelessness. Last week, he ordered the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to sweep homeless encampments from state land in Tulsa, offering people two options: a shelter bed or… Read more [More...]

The myth of Oklahoma’s fiscal self-reliance (Policy Matters)

This column originally appeared in The Journal Record on August 6, 2025 Oklahoma prides itself on being lean and self-reliant, living within its means while others spend recklessly. But the numbers tell a different story. In truth, billions in federal… Read more [More...]

Statement from the Oklahoma Policy Institute on passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill”

On July 3, 2025, H.R.1 — also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — cleared both chambers of Congress and now heads to the President’s desk for final approval. Statement from OK Policy’s Executive Director Shiloh Kantz:  Today’s… Read more [More...]

Oklahomans should be watching LA immigration raid protests with concern (Commentary)

The federal government's use of tear gas and National Guard troops against protestors in Los Angeles should sound an alarm for residents in every state — including places like Oklahoma that are far from a border. These tactics may start in Los Angeles, but history tells us they won't stay there. [More...]

Oklahoma Policy Institute condemns U.S. House passage of federal budget bill that harms vulnerable Oklahomans

The proposed federal budget bill immediately threatens the well-being of countless Oklahomans by slashing essential health care and food programs while creating tax shelters for the wealthiest Americans. Simply put, this bill is a transfer of wealth from America's poor and middle class into the pockets of the nation's richest 1 percent. [More...]

The governor’s agenda isn’t a plan — it’s a power grab (Commentary)

Make no mistake: The latest tax cut push announced by Gov. Stitt and legislative leaders has nothing to do with sound policy. It's about power — and protecting a political legacy at the expense of Oklahoma's future. [More...]

A bad time for a tax cut (Commentary)

I've seen 12 Oklahoma legislative sessions, and I am at this point pretty well accustomed to the mounting drama at 23rd and Lincoln as sine die draws near. However, this spring has been even wilder than usual. Topped off by Wednesday's surprise announcement that the governor and legislative leaders had, behind closed doors, struck a deal with both an immediate tax cut and a triggered tax cut. [More...]