Category: Press Releases & Statements

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...]

Statement: Disappointing results and hope for the future in this year’s legislative session

Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement on the final results of Oklahoma’s 2017 regular legislative session: If we look only at the bills that made it through the full legislative process to be signed by the governor, most Oklahomans would… Read more [More...]

Statement: Lawmakers should vote down budget that breaks their promises

The Save Our State Coalition, including Oklahoma Policy Institute, released the following statement in response to the budget plan unveiled by House and Senate leaders late last night: The legislative session began with promises to fix Oklahoma’s structural deficit, fund… Read more [More...]