Category: Media

STATEMENT: Budget deal is fiscally irresponsible, hurts Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to Oklahoma’s FY 2015 budget deal: The budget deal is fiscally irresponsible and will do serious harm to Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens and those who care for them. Even in a… Read more [More...]

STATEMENT: Lawmakers should reject deal to expand industry tax break

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement on reports that state leaders are arranging a deal with oil and gas executives to extend the horizontal drilling tax break to all wells at 2 percent for four years: Expanding this unnecessary… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin boasts far-right record (MSNBC)

By Irin Carmon An execution this week that went terribly wrong has catapulted Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, a Republican, to the national stage. But there’s more to Fallin than her zeal for capital punishment. The first female governor of Oklahoma… Read more [More...]

Teachers Speak Out at Oklahoma Watch-Out Forum (Oklahoma Watch)

By Nate Robson Teacher pay and school accountability were among the biggest topics discussed during a community forum Wednesday evening tackling issues facing Oklahoma public-school teachers. A panel of educators, joined by other teachers and representatives from education and public-policy… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma governor signs income tax cut into law (Tulsa World)

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed an income tax cut measure into law Monday that will gradually lower Oklahoma’s top income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 4.85 percent over several years if state revenues continue to rise. The Republican governor,… Read more [More...]

Health care needs have reached critical stage (Norman Transcript)

By Kenneth Wells Once again, the Republican-led Oklahoma legislators are leaving Oklahoma’s neediest in the dust with their proposed 2014-2015 budget. Studies by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services project… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma is a low-tax state (Pryor Times)

By Sen. Sean Burrage April 15th was the deadline for filing taxes. I’m certain it’s no one’s favorite time of year, but here’s something that may help give a little perspective—at least as far as state taxes go. When you… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma, With An Oil And Gas Boom, Is Facing A Budget Crisis (International Business Times)

By Laura Matthews Oklahoma is doing better than most states post-recession: It has a growing economy — in 2012 Oklahoma’s GDP grew by 2.1 percent, just below the nation’s 2.5 percent growth — and the state collects hundreds of millions… Read more [More...]

STATEMENT: Tax cut vote ignores the wishes of Oklahomans and what’s best for economy

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to the passage of SB 1246, which schedules automatic cuts to the top income tax rate: Today House members have ignored the wishes of most Oklahoma voters and the best evidence… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma ‘revenue’ options involve significant downside (The Oklahoman)

The Oklahoma Policy Institute issued a set of recommendations to fill the state’s $188 million budget hole, options the think tank believes are “balanced” and “feasible.” While a range of proposals are promoted, no one should think these options are… Read more [More...]