Category: Media

Oklahoma on Track for $2B Budget Hole by 2030 (KWGS)

By Matt Trotter You’ve heard this before, but it’s just as true today — Oklahoma is locked into a structural budget deficit.  “Or, even simpler, we’re broke,” said Oklahoma Policy Institute Executive Director David Blatt at the group’s fourth annual budget… Read more [More...]

EDITORIAL: Longtime journalist Frosty Troy was an Oklahoma original (Enid News & Eagle)

By Enid News & Eagle Editorial Board Gov. Mary Fallin issued a poignant statement Thursday on the passing of a true Oklahoma original. Although she is a Republican, Gov. Fallin acknowledged the death of a man considered a liberal, yellow… Read more [More...]

What would an ACA repeal look like? (The Frontier)

https://soundcloud.com/listenfrontier/what-would-an-aca-repeal-look-like Carly Putnam, with OK Policy Institute, and Sabine Brown, talk with Frontier Editor In Chief Ziva Branstetter about the Affordable Care Act, what its repeal would look like, and who would be most affected. https://www.readfrontier.org/multimedia/listen-frontier-what-would-an-aca-repeal-look-like/… Read more [More...]

Local law enforcement opposes State Questions 780 & 781 (KJRH)

By Darcy Jackson CLAREMORE, Okla. — State questions that were meant to reduce prison population may soon have an affect on your community. At least, that’s what some in local law enforcement fear as crime and punishment changes go into… Read more [More...]

Anti-choice activists in Oklahoma have a new tactic to spread lies about abortion (Think Progress)

By Kendall Brown In the wake of the latest anti-abortion law struck down earlier last month, anti-abortion activists in Oklahoma are now taking a different, more innovative route: social media. The newest anti-abortion bill in the state — dubbed the… Read more [More...]

People To Watch: DeVon Douglass takes new role to lead Tulsa on path to resiliency (Tulsa World)

By Ginnie Graham Narrowing divides among Tulsa residents is going to be the focus of DeVon Douglass as the city’s newly named chief resilience officer. Douglass, 28, drew attention last year with rave reviews as a moderator for the summer’s… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma gas tax may be raised (The Oklahoman)

By Rick Green An increase in Oklahoma’s gasoline tax will likely be on the table next legislative session as it’s one of the smallest in the nation, it hasn’t been adjusted in nearly three decades, fuel prices are comparatively low… Read more [More...]

Civic engagement groups prepare for the next legislative session (Oklahoma Gazette)

By Laura Eastes Last week, when Oklahoma’s chief budget negotiator divulged that the state was short $868 million in revenue for the coming year, it reinforced concerns that once again lawmakers would have another difficult budget to balance and citizens… Read more [More...]

Lawmakers seek to fill budget hole (The Altus Times)

OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma budget writers are bracing for yet another gaping hole to work around for the upcoming fiscal year — the third consecutive year with a significant shortfall. Officials estimate a $600 million deficit for the budget that’ll… Read more [More...]

State legislators say there will be no income tax decrease – for now (Tahlequah Daily Press)

By Janelle Stecklein OKLAHOMA CITY – Even though state budget writers face a hole hundreds of millions of dollars deep, top officials haven’t ruled out an income tax cut next year. The state may be looking at an estimated $868… Read more [More...]