Category: Media

When do we address poverty? (Stillwater News Press)

By Stillwater News Press Progressive think tank, Oklahoma Policy Institute, this week released updated U.S. Census statistics that showed the U.S. as a whole decreased its overall poverty percentage. That’s great, until you see how Oklahoma fared. With national poverty… Read more [More...]

Flat Poverty, Uninsured Rates in Oklahoma Mean State Fell Further Behind (Public Radio Tulsa)

By Matt Trotter New Census data shows poverty and uninsured rates in Oklahoma were essentially flat from 2015 to 2016. From 2015 to 2016, the state’s poverty rate went from 16.1 to 16.3, while the uninsured rate went from 13.9… Read more [More...]

Statement: Don’t waste second chance to get the budget right

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement on Governor Fallin’s announcement that she is calling a special session beginning September 25: Governor Fallin did what’s right for Oklahoma by calling a special session to prevent severe cuts to basic health… Read more [More...]

Ending DACA cruel, un-American (O’Colly)

By O’Colly Editorial Board We are at history’s mercy. Our actions today decide what our children and grandchildren will one day read in textbooks. How will they talk about the Dreamers? What if one of our sons or daughters come… Read more [More...]

Tax ruling expands Oklahoma’s budget options (News OK)

By Dale Denwalt The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that upheld the automobile sales tax could give lawmakers an easier way to raise revenue. The court defined the difference between creating a new tax, which requires a supermajority vote, and modifying… Read more [More...]

Deep Blue Connecticut Faces Fiscal Woes. So Does Deep Red Oklahoma (WSHU Radio)

By Ebong Udoma Connecticut is a blue state that has fiscal problems. Oklahoma is a red state that has fiscal problems. Conservatives blame Connecticut’s problems on liberal tax-and-spend policies. And liberals blame Oklahoma’s problems on conservative economic policies. We decided… Read more [More...]

Statement: Court ruling confirms that Oklahoma lawmakers have good options to fix budget in special session

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement on today’s Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling upholding a law that partially ends the state sales tax exemption for auto sales: ​The court’s ruling confirms that lawmakers have numerous options to fill the budget… Read more [More...]

Poorest Parts of Tulsa County Hit Hardest by Rising Court Costs (Public Radio Tulsa)

By Matt Trotter Tulsa County’s poor, majority black neighborhoods are struggling the most with rising court costs. For example, in Turley, where 57 percent of residents are black and the poverty rate is nearly 40 percent, the total court debt… Read more [More...]

Guardian UK reports on the failing state next door (Arkansas Times)

By David Koon The Guardian UK recently published a deep and enlightening dive into the fortunes of Oklahoma, the Republican-dominated state where the petroleum industry largely holds sway over environmental regulations, fracking-driven earthquakes rattle the land, school teachers make less… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma job licensing changes won’t happen easily (News OK)

By The Oklahoman Editorial Board The state Department of Labor has begun the overdue work of reviewing job licensing requirements in Oklahoma, with an eye on perhaps changing some of those requirements. An initial public meeting about the idea offered… Read more [More...]