Category: Media

Volume of Uncontested Lawmaker Seats ‘Not the Best Thing for Our Community’ (KGOU)

By Kate Carlton Greer While most of the candidates on Tuesday’s ballot have been knocking doors, making phone calls and earning votes for weeks now, several state lawmakers are running unopposed and have quieter campaigns. Incumbency Advantages When Republican State… Read more [More...]

Refusal to Accept Federal Funds Adversely Affects Oklahomans’ Health (Daily Ardmoreite)

The state’s failure to accept federal aid for health care programs contributes to the overall poor health of Oklahomans, and is proving costly because uninsured Oklahomans seek uncompensated medical care in hospital emergency rooms. “Everyone benefits when more people receive… Read more [More...]

Hamilton: Reason to Sing a Different Tune (The Journal Record)

By Arnold Hamilton As the midterm elections near, it’s easy to see why so many Oklahoma Democrats are singing the red-state blues. The state hasn’t voted for a Democrat for president since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. President Barack Obama didn’t… Read more [More...]

Together Oklahoma Coalition Promotes Statewide Tour to Engage Sooners in Issues (Lawton Constitution)

By Kim McConnell A statewide tour by the Together Oklahoma coalition is working to increase public participation among Oklahomans, including those in the Lawton area. Kara Joy McKee and Damario Solomon-Simmons, with the Oklahoma Policy Institute, are visiting cities and… Read more [More...]

Colleagues Reflect on Gov. Henry Bellmon’s Education Legacy (KGOU)

By Ben Fenwick and Brian Hardzinski Oklahoma’s first Republican governor is considered an architect of the state’s hallmark education movement. Both opponents and allies of Henry Bellmon described him as the moving force for the 1990 passage of House Bill… Read more [More...]

Income Tax: Supply Side with a Cushion (OZY)

By Emily Cadei Death and taxes are life’s two certainties, it is said, but we’d add a third: politicians who promise tax cuts. Tax policy, long a touchstone debate between conservatives and liberals, has taken on heightened importance as the… Read more [More...]

Think Tank Encourages Enidites to Get Involved (Enid News)

By Dale Denwalt Even though Oklahoma is tied to dismal statistics in education, incarceration and civic involvement, Kara Joy McKee thinks it’s not time to “tuck our tails.” McKee, who is an outreach specialist with Oklahoma Policy Institute think tank,… Read more [More...]

Fiscal Panelists: Anemic Education Funding May Cost Jobs (KGOU)

By Ben Fenwick Education is a core service of Oklahoma’s state government, is woefully underfunded, and will cost the state future jobs if not addressed soon. That’s the message of some panelists convened by the Oklahoma Policy Institute last month,… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma Is in a Tough Place When It Comes to Health (KWGS)

By Matt Trotter First, some good news from Oklahoma Policy Institute Executive Director David Blatt on the state’s health rankings. “Chlamydia, we’re only ranked 23rd, so you can maybe see that on a T-shirt someday soon: Oklahoma — only 23rd… Read more [More...]

New Census data shows Oklahoma’s economy is leaving too many behind

New data shows that poverty remained high in Oklahoma last year, highlighting that many people have not yet recovered from the recession and underscoring the need for Oklahoma to do more to help people struggling to afford basics like decent… Read more [More...]