Category: Press Releases & Statements

OK Policy Budget Review

(Oklahoma City, June 3, 2009): The use of federal stimulus managed to cushion the impact of declining state revenue collections and help minimize or avert funding cuts to most large state agencies, but funding gaps and hard choices will remain… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma Policy Institute Recommends Using Rainy Day Fund Now to Minimize Damage to State Services

(Oklahoma City, May 11, 2009): A new issue brief released today by Oklahoma Policy Institute (OK Policy) urges state leaders to add the Rainy Day Fund (RDF) into the discussion of the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, FY… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma Can Protect State Services by Decoupling from Federal Business Tax Provisions

(Oklahoma City, May 4, 2009): Oklahoma faces a budget shortfall of at least $600 million in the coming fiscal year, 2009-10. Federal stimulus bill (American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009, or ARRA) tax provisions could make this gap $46… Read more [More...]

New Fact Sheet Examines Gross Production Taxes and Exemptions

(Oklahoma City, April 28, 2009):  Oklahoma Policy Institute released a new fact sheet on Oklahoma’s gross production tax that takes a specific look at the tax exemptions that are offered for different forms of oil and gas production. Over the… Read more [More...]

Updating Unemployment Insurance Laws Would Bolster Trust Fund, Help Oklahoma’s Workers and Businesses

(Oklahoma City, April 2, 2009):  A new issue brief from Oklahoma Policy Institute calls on Oklahoma to take advantage of opportunities provided in the federal stimulus bill to make modest changes to its Unemployment Insurance program that would bolster the… Read more [More...]

Policy Group Calls on Governor to Create Accountability Board to Oversee Federal Recovery Funds

(Oklahoma City, February 25, 2009): Oklahoma Policy Institute today called on Governor Brad Henry to promote transparency and public confidence in the expenditure of funds coming to Oklahoma as part of the federal economic stimulus bill by creating an Oklahoma… Read more [More...]

New Bills May Provide Relief to Oklahomans in Need

(Oklahoma City – January 29, 2009)  Two new bills introduced for the 2009 legislative session by a bipartisan pair of legislators would provide financial relief from the rising cost of groceries for families in Oklahoma who are struggling. HB 2204,… Read more [More...]

Organizations Call on Legislators to Increase Grocery Tax Credit

(Oklahoma City, December 16, 2008) – Organizations from across the state are calling on the Oklahoma Legislature to strengthen the Sales Tax Relief Credit, a move that would provide much needed and ongoing benefits to families and individuals struggling to… Read more [More...]

New Policy Briefs Explore Options to Increase Tax Credits for Struggling Families

(Oklahoma City, October 6, 2008):  Policymakers looking for opportunities to help struggling Oklahoma families should consider expanding two existing tax credits targeted to low- and moderate-income Oklahomans, according to a pair of policy briefs released today by the Oklahoma Policy… Read more [More...]

Income Tax Cuts Have Dampened Oklahoma Revenues by $400-$600 Million; Top Rate Cut Primarily Benefits Wealthy

(Oklahoma City, Sept. 2, 2008) – Cuts in recent years to the individual income tax have decreased state revenues by several hundred million dollars, with most of the benefits going to the highest-income Oklahomans. These findings are contained in a… Read more [More...]