Category: Media

Oklahoma poverty a chronic, unaddressed problem (Tulsa World)

Original at http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=61&articleid=20110313_211_G1_CUTLIN746470 By JANET PEARSON Associate Editor The economy is showing some modest signs of recovery in Oklahoma, but for a staggering number of Oklahoma families, that’s not the case. In fact, if anything, the consequences of poverty are… Read more [More...]

Tax policy rarely devoid of wedge-driving arguments (Oklahoman)

Original at http://newsok.com/tax-policy-rarely-devoid-of-wedge-driving-arguments/article/3547959 By The Oklahoma Editorial Board A truly “fair” income tax system would assess everyone, rich or poor, at the same level and offer no exemptions or deductions. Public policy is rarely based solely on fairness, though, so… Read more [More...]

New Fact Sheet Shows State Appropriated Spending Is at a Thirty-Year Low

Contact: David Blatt, Director Cell: (918) 859-8747; Office: (918) 794-3944 Oklahoma’s Economy Grows, Spending on Public Services Lags (Tulsa, March 1, 2011): A new fact sheet released today by Oklahoma Policy Institute reveals that the state appropriated budget in relation… Read more [More...]

Fixing the Sales Tax: Options for Reform

Contact: David Blatt, Director Office: (918) 794-3944 dblatt@okpolicy.org New Issue Brief Calls for Fixing Oklahoma’s Sales Tax; Exemptions and Loopholes Are Distorting Economy, Starving Public Services   (Tulsa, February 22):  Reform of Oklahoma’s sales tax is needed to support state and… Read more [More...]

The Oklahoma People to Watch in 2011 (Tulsa World)

by: RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer The five people profiled here may not be household names, but expect that to change. Their roles in government, public policy and community affairs will have wide-ranging impacts in the year ahead. [To see… Read more [More...]

Tulsa-based think tank forecasts state financial woes (Urban Tulsa Weekly)

Original at http://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A34476 BY MIKE EASTERLING, Urban Tulsa Weekly  David Blatt, the director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, isn’t trying to convince anyone that the economic analyses his nonprofit, Tulsa-based think tank produces are always going to be spot on.… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma Policy Institute state fiscal study projects ‘bleak extended period’ (Tulsa World)

Original at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20101207_16_A12_OKLAHO370531&archive=yes By BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau  OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma lawmakers will have $400 million less to spend in the coming fiscal year than they did in the current fiscal year, the director of the Oklahoma Policy… Read more [More...]

Report: Oklahoma economy may not recover until 2014 (Associated Press)

Original at http://newsok.com/report-okla.-economy-may-not-recover-until-2014/article/3521488 By SEAN MURPHY Oklahoma’s economy, battered from the fallout of a national recession and low oil and natural gas prices, likely will not fully recover until at least 2014, according to a report released Tuesday by a… Read more [More...]

OK Policy Memo: Expect Budget Shortfalls to Continue; Balanced Approach to Bridging the Budget Gap is Urged

Whoever wins the elections in November will face difficult choices in filling large budget holes and balancing the budget in the years ahead, according to a memo to candidates and elected officials released today by Oklahoma Policy Institute, an independent… Read more [More...]

Think tank’s rejection a major blow for SQ 744 (Oklahoman)

Original at http://newsok.com/article/3479304 The addition of the Oklahoma Policy Institute to the ranks of those opposed to the most important state question on the November ballot is the strongest sign yet of just how ill-conceived the proposal is. State Question… Read more [More...]