Category: Media

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

Phone and email contacts for Oklahoma’s U.S. Senators • Sen. James Lankford • Sen. Markwayne Mullin The Oklahoma Policy Institute expresses deep concern over the U.S. House of Representatives’ narrow passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which immediately… Read more [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...]

OK Policy Statement on FY 26 Budget Process and Proposed Tax Cuts

While the governor says he wants to make Oklahoma more "pro-business," his rhetoric doesn't match what business leaders call for. Instead of investing in these areas, this proposal includes poorly designed tax cuts that will strip hundreds of millions from state revenue — making it even harder to deliver on the basics Oklahomans expect. [More...]

IRS-ICE tax data deal betrays public trust and endangers immigrants (Commentary)

Contrary to popular rhetoric, undocumented immigrants pay billions of dollars in federal, state, and local taxes. Nearly three decades ago, the Internal Revenue Service created the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number so individuals ineligible for a Social Security Number could comply… Read more [More...]

Statement: Gov.’s veto of SB 128 rejects bipartisan solution that would have helped landlords and kept Oklahomans in their homes

Gov. Stitt's veto of Senate Bill 128 is more than a missed opportunity — it's a step backward for housing stability in Oklahoma. This bipartisan bill would have added just five days to the eviction trial timeline and increased the notice period from three to seven days. Five days could mean the difference between a family staying housed or landing in a shelter. [More...]

Silence in the face of injustice puts each of us at risk (Commentary)

The federal government took less than 100 days after President Trump’s inauguration to mount an unprecedented and wholesale attack on immigrant families in America, regardless of their immigration status or criminal history. The Trump administration is destroying lawful pathways into… Read more [More...]

Only smash the piggy bank in emergencies (Policy Matters)

This column originally appeared in The Journal Record on April 23, 2025 Imagine you’re saving money in case your roof starts leaking during a storm. One day, instead of fixing the roof, you decide to hand that money to someone… Read more [More...]

Now is time for long-term planning, not short-term politics (Commentary)

What if you gave away the biggest tax cut in Oklahoma history, and no one noticed? That’s the reality facing the governor and the legislative leaders he’s trying to pressure to pass income tax cuts that benefit the wealthiest Oklahomans.… Read more [More...]

Oklahomans get what we pay for (Policy Matters)

• This column originally ran in the Journal Record on Feb. 7, 2024 • OK Policy Advocacy Alert: Tell lawmakers to oppose tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and risk critical services Oklahomans pay among the least in taxes when… Read more [More...]