Category: Media

Task force proposal would hike taxes for 55 percent of Oklahomans; especially harms seniors and families

Contact: David Blatt, (918) 794-3944, dblatt@okpolicy.org A proposal by the legislature’s tax reform task force would raise taxes for 55 percent of Oklahomans, with the worst impact on low-income seniors and families with children, according to a new analysis from… Read more [More...]

Coalition being formed to safeguard state services’ funding (Tulsa World)

Original at: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=336&articleid=20120104_16_A11_ULNSbw423597 By BARBARA HOBEROCK, Tulsa World Capitol Bureau  OKLAHOMA CITY – A coalition is forming to support adequate funding of public services in light of talks at the Capitol about cutting taxes used to fund government. The Oklahoma… Read more [More...]

Gap grows for income of whites, nonwhites (Tulsa World)

Original at: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20120102_11_A1_Theinc511853 By CURTIS KILLMAN World Staff Writer Black, American Indian and Hispanic households all lost ground to white households in median incomes, Census figures show. One observer said the trend is indicative of the poor economy hitting minorities… Read more [More...]

Report: Oklahoma ranked 6th in the nation for safeguards on tax breaks

Contact:Michelle Lee 202-232-1616 x 210 or mlee@goodjobsfirst.orgGene Perry 918-794-3944 or gperry@okpolicy.org December 14, 2011–States are spending billions of dollars per year on corporate tax credits, cash grants and other economic development subsidies that often require little if any job creation… Read more [More...]

Fair share? Corporations in ‘race to the bottom’ in taxes owed (Tulsa World)

Original at http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=214&articleid=20111211_214_G1_CUTLIN655628 By JULIE DELCOUR Associate Editor Oklahoma and every state that struggled mightily through recent recessionary times, might have had a far easier time had major corporations paid their fair share of state income taxes. But they did… Read more [More...]

New report shows tax avoidance by 265 major, profitable U.S. corporations costs states $42 billion over three years

Contact:Anne Singer, 202-299-1066, ext. 27, anne@ctj.orgDavid Blatt, (918) 794-3944, dblatt@okpolicy.org A comprehensive new study finds that many consistently profitable companies are paying little to no corporate income taxes on those profits. Out of 265 Fortune 500 companies examined, 68 managed… Read more [More...]

In Oklahoma tax cut debate, something’s gotta give (Oklahoman)

Original at http://newsok.com/in-oklahoma-tax-cut-debate-somethings-gotta-give/article/3624420 The Oklahoman Editorial Board  IRRESISTIBLE force: Elimination of the state personal income tax. Immovable objects: Too many to list. That the elimination movement is a force to be reckoned with is obvious. A Republican-controlled state government is… Read more [More...]

OK Policy Forecasts Show Continued Tough Budget Times Ahead

Contact: David Blatt, Director Office: (918) 794-3944; Cell: (918) 859-8747   OK Policy Forecasts Show Continued Tough Budget Times Ahead; “Incomplete Recovery” Calls for Fresh Perspectives and New Strategies   (Tulsa, November 21, 2011): New budget forecasts prepared by Oklahoma Policy Institute… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma Policy Institute: State not on path to create own health exchange (eCapitol)

by Justin Martino, eCapitol (eCap) According to David Blatt, director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, Oklahoma is not on the path to show sufficient adequate progress in creating a state insurance exchange by January 2013. On a list of core… Read more [More...]

New Report Finds State Costs Under Health Care Reform Are Likely to be Modest

Contact: David Blatt, Director Office: (918) 794-3944; Cell: (918) 859-8747 Projections that the new federal health care law will impose billions of dollars of additional cost on the state budget are way out of line with other studies and based… Read more [More...]