Category: Press Releases & Statements

New report details Oklahoma’s unnecessary and unaffordable oil and gas tax breaks

(Tulsa, OK): Tax breaks for the oil and gas industry are growing out of control and squeezing out resources for schools, roads, public safety, and other keys to long-term economic growth, according to a new report issued today by the… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma school funding cuts among worst in U.S.

Contact: David Blatt, (918) 794-3944, dblatt@okpolicy.org Since 2008, Oklahoma’s public school spending per student has dropped by more than 20 percent, according to new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP). Oklahoma’s education cuts were the third… Read more [More...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

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...]

STATEMENT: Governor’s plan to fix bridges demonstrates need to preserve income tax

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to Governor Fallin’s announcement of her plan for repairing Oklahoma bridges: We welcome Governor Fallin’s focus on fixing Oklahoma’s crumbling bridges. However, we must note that her proposal would be paid… Read more [More...]

Income tax proposal would do lasting damage to state’s prosperity

Contact: David Blatt, dblatt@okpolicy.org, (918) 859-8747 Oklahoma Policy Institute finds that task force’s income tax proposal would do lasting damage to state’s prosperity  A new report on economic development prepared for Governor Fallin includes some worthwhile ideas, but its suggestions… Read more [More...]

Flip It to Fix It: An Immediate, Fair Solution to State Budget Shortfalls

Contact: David Blatt, dblatt@okpolicy.org, (918) 794-3944 Shannon Moriarty, smoriarty@faireconomy.org, (617) 824-0069 United for a Fair Economy Releases Flip It to Fix It: An Immediate, Fair Solution to State Budget Shortfalls, Documents Current Regressive State Tax Structures A new study has… Read more [More...]