Category: Media

This week in WTF: HB 2665 and HB 2797 (NONDOC)

By Josh McBee (Screenshot) As the 2016 Oklahoma legislative session advances, the Republican-controlled House has advanced at least two bills of note so far. HB 2665: Low-income Oklahomans face loss of health coverage Rep. Doug Cox (Provided) The first involves… Read more [More...]

Statement: Oklahoma should use Rainy Day Fund to ease mid-year cuts

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to state officials announcing even deeper mid-year budget cuts to all state agencies: Cumulative 7 percent across-the-board cuts to Oklahoma’s state agencies will be disastrous for schools, health care providers, public… Read more [More...]

OU students will work toward impacting Oklahoma policy (OU Daily)

By Jessica James A new student organization is empowering college students to make the changes they want to see in their communities by teaching them how to conduct policy research and possibly write legislation. The Roosevelt Institute is a national,… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma religious leaders fighting payday loan bill, call it an ‘evil’ practice (KFOR)

By Sarah Stewart OKLAHOMA CITY – Some religious leaders in Oklahoma are working to defeat a bill they say gives payday loan companies more authority. The federal government is set to enact stricter standards on these types of businesses. Before… Read more [More...]

Cushing: The pipeline crossroads of the world (Tulsa World)

By Casey Smith Cushing may be home to less than half of a percent of Oklahoma’s total population, but the city with just fewer than 8,000 residents is arguably more important to the energy industry than any other point in… Read more [More...]

Schools dodge $19 million budget cut (Enid News)

By Sally Asher Oklahoma public schools have dodged the $19 million budget cut projected by the state. State officials found $43.8 million in a dedicated source of income for public schools: the 1017 Fund, or the Education Reform Revolving Fund,… Read more [More...]

Sales Tax Exemptions: A Puzzling Roster of Haves and Have-Nots (Oklahoma Watch)

By Warren Vieth The National Rifle Association is exempt from the sales tax in Oklahoma. The American Civil Liberties Union is not. Organizations promoting the preservation of wild ducks and turkeys get a sales tax break. Groups promoting different wildlife,… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma Could Face Showdown Over Ill-Advised Income Tax Cuts (Tax Justice Blog)

By Sebastian Johnson Oklahoma has become yet another regrettable example of what happens when state policy is driven by income tax cuts. Worse, Gov. Mary Fallin and Senate Finance Chairman Mike Mazzei are on a collision course over the fate… Read more [More...]

Senator asks for help stopping income tax cut (Stillwater News Press)

By Michelle Charles Senate Finance Chair Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, is asking for the public’s help to stop an income tax cut he championed in 2014.   The 0.25 percent reduction in the state’s income tax rate takes it from 5.25 percent… Read more [More...]

Lawmakers Urged to Support a Rollback of the Latest State Income Tax Cut (KWGS)

By Marshall Stewart Members of the State Senate Finance Committee are scheduled to vote tomorrow on a measure to halt the most recent income tax cut. Citizens are being asked to call lawmakers and urge them to roll back the… Read more [More...]