Category: Media

Oklahoma Policy Institute: State not on path to create own health exchange (eCapitol)

by Justin Martino, eCapitol (eCap) According to David Blatt, director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, Oklahoma is not on the path to show sufficient adequate progress in creating a state insurance exchange by January 2013. On a list of core… Read more [More...]

New Report Finds State Costs Under Health Care Reform Are Likely to be Modest

Contact: David Blatt, Director Office: (918) 794-3944; Cell: (918) 859-8747 Projections that the new federal health care law will impose billions of dollars of additional cost on the state budget are way out of line with other studies and based… Read more [More...]

STATEMENT: Governor’s plan to fix bridges demonstrates need to preserve income tax

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to Governor Fallin’s announcement of her plan for repairing Oklahoma bridges: We welcome Governor Fallin’s focus on fixing Oklahoma’s crumbling bridges. However, we must note that her proposal would be paid… Read more [More...]

Income tax proposal would do lasting damage to state’s prosperity

Contact: David Blatt, dblatt@okpolicy.org, (918) 859-8747 Oklahoma Policy Institute finds that task force’s income tax proposal would do lasting damage to state’s prosperity  A new report on economic development prepared for Governor Fallin includes some worthwhile ideas, but its suggestions… Read more [More...]

OK Policy director paints grim picture for Chamber (Claremore Progress)

Original at http://claremoreprogress.com/local/x1126802467/OK-Policy-director-paints-grim-picture-for-Chamber by Tom Fink, Claremore Progress CLAREMORE – Oklahoma Policy Institute Director David Blatt used figures and charts to draw a somber picture of the state’s budgetary situation  to members of the Claremore Chamber of Commerce last week.… Read more [More...]

Yin and yang: What would an ideal Oklahoma tax system look like? (Journal Record)

by The Journal Record Members of a tax reform task force heard from policy groups on both sides Thursday, as officials with the Oklahoma Policy Institute and Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs presented their views on what the state’s tax… Read more [More...]

Flip It to Fix It: An Immediate, Fair Solution to State Budget Shortfalls

Contact: David Blatt, dblatt@okpolicy.org, (918) 794-3944 Shannon Moriarty, smoriarty@faireconomy.org, (617) 824-0069 United for a Fair Economy Releases Flip It to Fix It: An Immediate, Fair Solution to State Budget Shortfalls, Documents Current Regressive State Tax Structures A new study has… Read more [More...]

When government gets too small (Tulsa World)

Original at http://www.tulsaworld.com/blogs/post.aspx/?When_government_gets_too_small/30-11182  by Wayne Greene, Tulsa World David Blatt, director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, made an interesting argument that state government is getting too small Friday morning at the Dilly Deli. During a recession that has caused consecutive… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma Policy Institute press revenue options to avoid agency cuts (CapitolBeatOK)

Original at http://capitolbeatok.com/_webapp_3867662/David_Blatt,_Oklahoma_Policy_Institute_press_revenue_options_to_avoid_agency_cuts by Patrick McGuigan, CapitolBeatOK Over recent weeks, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin has asked for ideas on avoiding further budget cuts for state agencies. Oklahoma Policy Institute, a “think tank” based in Tulsa, has responded with a list… Read more [More...]

Institute suggests options for protecting services (Associated Press)

Original at http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9MJ20Q00.htm By Tim Talley, Associated Press A research group that studies state policy issues said Wednesday budget writers should consider closing income tax loopholes, eliminating some sales tax exemptions and tapping non-appropriated state revenue to prevent potentially drastic… Read more [More...]