Category: Media

Statement: Oklahomans deserve to see the full budget process, not just the final result

Statement from OK Policy Executive Director Shiloh Kantz: A state budget deal announced on April 1 raises a few eyebrows, but the real concern to Oklahoma taxpayers isn’t the timing — it’s the process. Once again, legislative leaders are keeping… Read more [More...]

Don’t blame property taxes for Oklahoma’s housing squeeze (op-ed)

Note: This op-ed is available for re-publication. Please credit Shiloh Kantz of the Oklahoma Policy Institute as author. If there are any questions, please contact OK Policy Communications Director Dave Hamby — A county official in rural Oklahoma recently told… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma budget faces $571M shortfall: Low- and middle-income residents will be hit hardest

From OK Policy’s Fiscal Policy Analyst Aanahita Irani Ervin: At February’s Board of Equalization meeting, one urgent fact stood out: Oklahoma is shifting the cost of essential services onto low- and middle-income families. Year-over-year comparisons show the state is experiencing… Read more [More...]

Governor’s executive order on ‘welfare reform’ misses the real problems facing Oklahomans

While no doubt well-intended, the governor’s executive order for “welfare to work” doesn’t address the real challenges that everyday Oklahomans face and misses the fact that many factors prevent Oklahomans from working. Low wages mean that a job isn’t enough… Read more [More...]

OK Policy comments on revenue numbers estimated during December 2025 Board of Equalization meeting

•Watch the Dec. 19, 2025 Board of Equalization meeting (YouTube) •Proposed FY 2027 Revenue Certification •Board of Equalization packets •Learn more about Revenue Certification The Oklahoma Board of Equalization estimated $8.35 billion of funds available for the Governor’s budget proposal… Read more [More...]

OK Policy’s work honored with national awards, lifetime achievement award for Angela Monson

The Oklahoma Policy Institute received five national awards for its work during the past year, and longtime Legislative and Outreach Director Angela Monson was honored with a lifetime achievement award during a Dec. 3 ceremony. OK Policy received five Graphies… Read more [More...]

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...]