Category: Media

Experts disagree with movement to cut Oklahoma income taxes (Public Radio Tulsa))

By Matt Trotter Cutting income taxes. The state’s been here before, and quite recently. “The [Oklahoma] Supreme Court threw the legislature a lifeline by striking down 2032,” said Oklahoma Policy Institute Director David Blatt at the organization’s budget summit last… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma revenue crunch colors budget talk (Tulsa World)

By Barbara Hoberock  Panelists on Thursday outlined a host of budget challenges facing lawmakers when they return in February to the Capitol to craft a budget. The Oklahoma Policy Institute, a Tulsa-based think tank, hosted the discussion at the Oklahoma… Read more [More...]

Bipartisan Panel to Discuss Oklahoma’s Budget Picture (Public Radio Tulsa)

Associated Press State legislative leaders, agency directors and academics are among those who will be discussing the state’s finances during an upcoming panel discussion. The Oklahoma Policy Institute is hosting a State Budget Summit Thursday at the Oklahoma History Center.… Read more [More...]

Summit Gives Bleak Outlook on Oklahoma Budget (Public Radio Tulsa)

By Matt Trotter A budget summit in Oklahoma City hosted by the Oklahoma Policy Institute gives a bleak outlook for the state’s short-term and long-term budgets.  Anew legislative session begins in just over two weeks. Lawmakers will head back to… Read more [More...]

Gov. Fallin, speaker differ on state budget (Muskogee Phoenix)

Associated Press Gov. Mary Fallin and House Speaker T.W. Shannon differ on how to tackle several major budget issues, including the use of bonds to pay for infrastructure improvements and a tax incentive for horizontal oil and gas drilling, the… Read more [More...]

Oil industry’s significance returns to 1982-levels (NewsOK)

By Adam Wilmoth Oil and natural gas activity in the state has nearly doubled over the past decade and has helped boost jobs, salaries and tax collections statewide, according to a report released Tuesday by the State Chamber. The report… Read more [More...]

STATEMENT: State Chamber study fails to make persuasive case for maintaining oil and gas subsidies

For Immediate Release: January 14, 2014 Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement about the State Chamber of Oklahoma’s report defending tax breaks for horizontal drilling, which are costing the state over $250 million annually in lost revenue: The State… Read more [More...]

Report makes case for oil and gas tax breaks (Capital City)

By Ben Felder A report from the State Chamber of Oklahoma’s Research Foundation on oil and gas policy comes short of making specific recommendations to lawmakers, but it does outline evidence of the benefit of continued tax breaks for the… Read more [More...]

Despite revenue dip, Okla. speaker pushes tax cuts (NewsOK)

Despite a projected $170 million decline in revenue available for the Legislature to spend on schools, child welfare and other state programs, House Speaker T.W. Shannon wants an income tax cut and a permanent and generous oil and gas drilling… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma leaders convening for State Budget Summit, January 16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 8, 2014 CONTACT: David Blatt, (918) 794-3944, dblatt@okpolicy.org As Oklahoma grapples with the possibility of another budget shortfall, top state and national experts will gather at a public event to discuss the state’s finances. On Thursday,… Read more [More...]