Category: Press Releases & Statements

Statement: Changes to Step Up income tax plan will bolster working families

For Immediate Release Oklahoma Policy Institute Executive Director David Blatt released the following statement on the amendment to HB 1037, the income tax component of the Step Up Oklahoma plan, which passed out of House committee today: The move to… Read more [More...]

Statement on Governor Fallin’s State of the State address and budget plan

For Immediate Release Oklahoma Policy Institute Executive Director David Blatt released the following statement in response to Governor Fallin’s State of the State address and FY 2019 Executive Budget: Governor Fallin has identified the right goals for this year’s legislative… Read more [More...]

State Budget Summit to feature national policy expert and state leader panels on Oklahoma’s most important issues

As the 2018 Oklahoma legislative session nears, the state continues to struggle with chronic budget shortfalls and growing discontent among Oklahomans about lack of funding for core services. On January 25 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Policy Institute’s 5th Annual State… Read more [More...]

OK Policy report calls for reform to improve trust between law enforcement and communities in Oklahoma

For Immediate Release: November 7, 2017 Contact: Ryan Gentzler, rgentzler@okpolicy.org, (918) 794-3944 Today, OK Policy released a report, “Strategies for Building Trust Between Law Enforcement and Communities in Oklahoma,” that details the challenges facing Oklahoma law enforcement and proposes a… Read more [More...]

New budget is a squandered opportunity of massive proportions

Here is our assessment of the budget unveiled on Nov. 13th by House and Senate leaders. UPDATE: The new General Appropriations bill, HB 1019X, has now passed the House and Senate and awaits action by the Governor. Lawmakers had plenty… Read more [More...]

Statement: Lawmakers should respect wishes of the majority and pass revenue deal

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement on the Oklahoma House’s failure to pass HB 1054: Most Oklahomans want a comprehensive solution to our budget crisis. The solution preferred by the majority would prevent deeper budget cuts, provide desperately needed… Read more [More...]

Statement: Latest Republican budget plan ignores obvious solutions

Oklahoma Policy Institute issued the following statement on the new budget proposal announced by Governor Fallin and Republican legislative leaders: Since the beginning of special session four weeks ago, the bipartisan framework needed to end our budget emergency has been clear.… Read more [More...]

Statement: Don’t waste second chance to get the budget right

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement on Governor Fallin’s announcement that she is calling a special session beginning September 25: Governor Fallin did what’s right for Oklahoma by calling a special session to prevent severe cuts to basic health… Read more [More...]

Statement: Court ruling confirms that Oklahoma lawmakers have good options to fix budget in special session

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement on today’s Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling upholding a law that partially ends the state sales tax exemption for auto sales: ​The court’s ruling confirms that lawmakers have numerous options to fill the budget… Read more [More...]

Statement: Lawmakers must go back to special session and finish job of funding core services

The SOS Coalition, which includes Oklahoma Policy Institute and 20 other organizations, released the following statement on today’s Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that threw out a cigarette fee and created a $214 million hole in the budgets of SoonerCare ($70… Read more [More...]