Category: Media

Oklahoma Budget Hole: $611.3 Million

By KWGS News Oklahoma’s budget shortfall is deeper than what officials expected. The state Equalization Board today said state lawmakers will have $611.3-million dollars less to spend this year than last. The  state says the decrease is brought on by… Read more [More...]

STATEMENT: Bleak revenue estimate shows need to look at all options

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to state officials certifying that Oklahoma faces a $611.3 million budget shortfall in the coming year: This news that Oklahoma’s revenue picture has gone from bad to worse cannot be blamed… Read more [More...]

Medicaid expansion gets no traction in state Legislature (NewsOK)

By Rick Green One of the strategic objectives on the state’s new “performance transparency website” calls for sharply decreasing the number of Oklahomans without health insurance.   The state could go a long way toward achieving this objective by expanding Oklahoma’s… Read more [More...]

Fallin’s Oklahoma-Meter Picks Up Praise, Skepticism (Duncan Banner)

By Janelle Stecklein Gov. Mary Fallin on Monday unveiled an online barometer of health, crime, education and other factors in the quality of life in Oklahoma — an initiative that she says will hold government accountable for spending. But leaders… Read more [More...]

STATEMENT: Governor Fallin’s proposed budget leaves Oklahoma’s best tools on the shelf

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to Governor Fallin’s proposed state budget for 2016: Governor Fallin rightly recognizes that Oklahoma needs to boost education funding, reduce incarceration, rein in tax breaks, and improve our citizens’ health, and… Read more [More...]

David Blatt Discusses the Budget with Tulsa World Editorial Editor Wayne Greene (Tulsa World TV)

http://www.tulsaworldtv.com/Budgetary-Priorities-David-Blatt-discusses-the-budget–28285978… Read more [More...]

Good info (The Oklahoman)

By The Oklahoman Editorial Board For those who want to understand how Oklahoma’s legislative process works, the Oklahoma Policy Institute has released its latest Oklahoma Legislative Primer. The primer (https://okpolicy.org/resources/2015-oklahoma-legislative-primer) gives information on the composition of the Legislature and executive… Read more [More...]

Lawmakers Unlikely to Cut Business Tax Breaks to Boost FY2016 Budget (KWGS)

By Matt Trotter Although Oklahoma faces a $300 million budget shortfall for next fiscal year, don’t expect lawmakers to slash business tax incentives to close the gap. Budget summit panelists this week said it’s unrealistic to think the legislature will… Read more [More...]

Anti-Gay Legislation Could Hurt the State’s Economy in the Long Run (KWGS)

By Matt Trotter A flurry of anti-gay legislation could damage Oklahoma’s chances of attracting top companies to the state. Oklahoma College of Business Dean Mickey Hepner said large companies employ diverse work forces and have an eye on social policies… Read more [More...]

Summit Paints Bleaker Picture of State Budget (KWGS)

By Matt Trotter Despite some signs of recovery, Oklahoma’s budget struggles look set to continue for the foreseeable future. “The budget challenges that we are facing this year in 2015, and looking ahead to 2016, are not one-off problems,” said… Read more [More...]