Category: Media

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...]

Statement: Oklahoma has a responsible solution to tobacco tax standoff

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to the standoff in the Legislature over a tobacco tax increase: Accepting available federal dollars for health care and rolling back an income tax cut that should not be happening in… Read more [More...]

Obamacare gets an OK? A bastion of Republican ACA opposition might be crumbling (Salon)

By Simon Maloy   (Credit: Reuters/Carlos Barria) If one were to forced to choose which state has demonstrated the most political hostility towards the Affordable Care Act, you could definitely build a strong case for Oklahoma. The state is about a… Read more [More...]

When the oil boom went bust, Oklahoma protected drillers and squeezed schools (Reuters)

By Luc Cohen and Joshua Schneyer Oilmen won a big victory when legislators made permanent one of the juiciest tax breaks in the United States. Schools, meanwhile, are having to cut classes, administrators and teachers to make up a growing… Read more [More...]