Category: Media

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...]

Big Oil, Small Schools (U.S. News)

By Gaby Galvin In Oklahoma, oil drillers have reaped the benefits of the lowest effective tax rates in the nation while the state’s schools have struggled to keep their doors open. As U.S. oil patches boomed between 2008 and 2014,… Read more [More...]

Higher Education Budget (OETA)

[arve url=”https://youtu.be/huo1uskjg3k” /]… Read more [More...]

Bipartisan support evident for renewed license policy (Journal Record)

By Catherine Sweeney OKLAHOMA CITY – When state Department of Labor officials introduced their push to update licensing laws, they said the movement had bipartisan support. That became clear during a panel discussion Wednesday. Last week, officials announced they would… Read more [More...]

Critics hail Steele’s appointment to Pardon and Parole Board (Journal Record)

By Catherine Sweeney OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Mary Fallin’s latest appointment to the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has garnered high praise, as supporters say that it proves her dedication to criminal justice reform. She appointed Kris Steele, a former… Read more [More...]

Several paths for Oklahoma’s latest budget shortfall (News OK)

By Dale Denwalt Oklahoma lawmakers face some tough decisions following a court case that struck down $215 million in new revenue this month. What can they do? Here are some options. Call a special session The first big decision is… Read more [More...]

Fallin, legislative leaders mull options to deal with budget hole (Tulsa World)

By Barbara Hoberock OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Mary Fallin and legislative leaders are waiting on more information before possibly returning in special session to fix a major budget hole. “It is not necessary to make the call for a special… Read more [More...]