Category: Media

Lawmakers increase their appropriation while cutting others in state budget (Tulsa World)

By Barbara Hoberock OKLAHOMA CITY — While agencies across the state are taking budget cuts, the Legislature has increased its appropriation, according to a proposal that came out Tuesday. The House, Senate and Legislative Services Bureau will see a combined… Read more [More...]

State Gives Income Tax Breaks to Companies That Pay No Tax (Oklahoma Watch)

By Warren Vieth and Mark Lash (Updated on May 29.) Some state lawmakers justified their decision to curtail a tax credit for the working poor by declaring that the state shouldn’t be subsidizing people who owe no income taxes in… Read more [More...]

Most Oklahoma agencies see cuts, but there’s a big exception (The Oklahoman)

By Rick Green Oklahoma lawmakers want to boost funding for legislative services by $4 million even as they cut appropriations for most other agencies.  Under a budget proposal making its way through the Legislature, funding for the Legislative Service Bureau,… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma Rep. explains 183% increase to legislative agency’s budget; questions remain (KFOR)

By KFOR-TV and K. Querry OKLAHOMA CITY –  Lawmakers proposed a $6.8 billion budget on Tuesday, which meant that several state agencies would see their funding decrease amid the state’s budget crisis. However, a couple of agencies did not see… Read more [More...]

Statement: Lawmakers have not risen to the challenge of a historic budget shortfall

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to the state budget deal announced by lawmakers: Lawmakers have not risen to the challenge of a historic budget shortfall. While this budget deal may prevent further cuts to common education… Read more [More...]

Plan to raise Oklahoma’s sales tax has supporters, detractors (The Oklahoman)

By Ben Felder Oklahoma’s two largest cities would have some of the highest sales tax rates in the nation if a one-cent increase were approved by voters in November. The average sales tax rate across the state also would become… Read more [More...]

Superintendent goes over key issues facing local schools (Woodward News)

By Elise Solloway Superintendent Kyle Reynolds gathered with local residents in Woodward High School’s media center to go over several topics on Wednesday. Reynolds shared photographs showing the progress on each of the ongoing construction projects taking place in the… Read more [More...]

Oil Battles Wind on the Great Plains (The American Prospect)

By Caroline Preston  The wind industry’s rising success in Oklahoma has kicked off a high-dollar lobbying fight by fossil fuels executives determined to regain ground. PinItInstapaperEmail AP Photo/David Crenshaw, File Wind turbines sit idle at the Oklahoma Wind Energy Center… Read more [More...]

Statement on votes to end “double deduction” and slash Earned Income Tax Credit

Oklahoma Policy Institute issued the following statement in response to the House of Representatives giving final passage to SB 1604, which makes the state Earned Income Tax Credit non-refundable, and SB 1606, which ends the “double deduction”: The legislators who… Read more [More...]

Budget Crisis Clips Credit For Working Poor (Oklahoma Watch)

By Warren Vieth and Mark Lash In their final rush to contend with Oklahoma’s budget crisis, state lawmakers have voted to curtail a tax credit described by advocates as one of the best programs ever devised to help the working… Read more [More...]