Category: Media

OK Policy’s Response to 2021 State of the State Address

In pointing Oklahomans towards his vision of Oklahoma as a Top 10 state, Gov. Stitt during his State of the State address shared a quote he attributed to Will Rogers: “Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.” However,… Read more [More...]

Statement: OHCA’s approval of privatizing Oklahoma’s health care is bad health care policy and lacks sufficient public comment processes

Statement from Carly Putnam, Policy Director for the Oklahoma Policy Institute:  “The OHCA’s decision today to approve funding for privatizing management for the state’s Medicaid program was rushed, disallowed a robust public comment process, and advanced bad health care policy… Read more [More...]

OK Policy Statement: State officials forcing public to choose between health, government participation 

UPDATE: OHCA officials said Wednesday morning (Jan. 20) that this meeting will be rescheduled following a decision by the board chair. # # # The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is continuing to stifle taxpayers who want to comment on a… Read more [More...]

OK Policy announces its 2021 policy priority areas

OK Policy has announced its 2021 legislative priorities, focusing on policy initiatives to help Oklahomans live healthier, create thriving families, and develop safe communities.  “Even before COVID-19 struck, far too many Oklahoma families and communities were struggling to provide and… Read more [More...]

OK Policy State Budget Summit, Advocate Training set for Jan 26 & 27

The Oklahoma Legislative session starts on Feb. 1, and setting the state budget is among the most impactful tasks lawmakers will tackle. To help Oklahomans better understand the state budget — and provide a look forward at the coming fiscal… Read more [More...]

New KIDS COUNT® report shows need for immediate action to help Oklahoma children and families 

A new report from KIDS COUNT®, a program of the Annie E. Casey Foundation focused on child well-being, shows how the COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on Oklahoma’s children and families. The report — entitled “Kids, Families and COVID-19: Pandemic Pain Points and The Urgent Need to Respond” — also highlights the outsized impact of the pandemic on our state’s children and families of color.   Many Oklahoma families have directly dealt with the illness itself; far more, however, have found themselves facing the pandemic’s economic and emotional toll from lost wages, lack of child care, and school closures. Too many Oklahoma families are asking themselves regularly: Will my family have enough food to eat? Will I be able to pay our rent on time? How will I afford medical treatment if we get sick?  [More...]

New OK Policy report shows intricate, fragile interconnectedness of public assistance programs for Oklahomans in need

A new report from the Oklahoma Policy Institute — entitled “Plateaus and Cliff Effects in Oklahoma” —  is among the first of its kind to examine how public supports and income interact to impact low-income Oklahomans. [More...]

Public being denied opportunity for input about significant change to Oklahoma health care policy 

The Oklahoma Health Care Authority is shutting out Oklahomans from voicing concerns about a major change for health care for most SoonerCare members. On Nov. 12, the OHCA Medical Advisory Committee voted to condemn the agency’s efforts to transition the… Read more [More...]

OK Policy announces Angela Monson as Outreach and Legislative Director

The Oklahoma Policy Institute announced it has hired former Oklahoma lawmaker Angela Monson to help engage Oklahomans and elected officials with its work to make our state a place where everyone can thrive.  [More...]

OK Policy statement cutting short Census field operations

On August 3, the Census Bureau announced it would cut short its operations timeline as it works to ensure a full and complete count for everyone living in the United States. The Census Bureau previously announced it would have enumerators… Read more [More...]