OK Policy Blog

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2023 Census data: Oklahoma ranks as sixth poorest state

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
September 12, 2024 // Updated: September 12, 2024
Lawmakers have options to improve Oklahomans’ well-being, access to prosperity Data from the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey released Sept. 12 show that Oklahoma’s poverty rate was 15.9 percent, which was the nation’s sixth highest. The national poverty rate… Read more More...

Recent Posts

Weekly Wonk: Who really wins from tax cuts? Hint: It’s probably not you | ‘Path to zero’ is a dangerous road | Mostly flat budget requests from state’s health, human services agencies

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
February 9, 2025 // Updated: February 7, 2025
What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

Mostly flat budget requests from state’s health, human services agencies (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
February 3, 2025 // Updated: February 3, 2025
In the final week of budget hearings before the legislative session began this week, the health and human services agencies asked for basically maintenance increases for next year's budget. [More...]

Who really wins from tax cuts? (Hint: It’s probably not you) 

By: Dave Hamby
// Updated: February 3, 2025
During today’s State of the State address, the governor is expected to renew his call for cutting taxes in Oklahoma. The "path to zero" is a dangerous road. [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Fact checking the governor’s proposal to cut, eliminate personal income | Blocking homeless outreach won’t solve the problem | We must stay engaged this legislative session | Capitol Update

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
February 1, 2025 // Updated: January 31, 2025
What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

FACT CHECK: How would the governor’s proposal to cut, eliminate personal income tax affect Oklahoma?

By: Dave Hamby
January 29, 2025 // Updated: January 29, 2025
Gov. Stitt has called for cutting then eliminating the state's personal income tax. Here is an estimate of how it would impact Oklahomans and what it would cost. [More...]

Fact Check: How would eliminating Oklahoma’s personal income tax impact residents, state revenue?

By: Dave Hamby
// Updated: January 29, 2025
Proposal Gov. Stitt has reiterated a call to eventually eliminate the state’s personal income tax, which he calls a “path to zero.” (January 29, 2025) Related: As part of this process, he is proposing the first step be a 0.5%… Read more [More...]

Lawmakers weighing agency needs, budget cuts, and $4.6 billion in state savings (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
January 28, 2025 // Updated: January 28, 2025
As the 2025 legislative session approaches, the appropriations and budget subcommittees continue to hear Fiscal Year 2026 budget requests from state agencies. Most of the agencies are asking for modest budget increases. Among the small but important agencies in the… Read more [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Initial budget picture should caution state lawmakers | Proposed legislation could help modernize state’s justice system | Criminalizing homelessness is anti-Oklahoma standard

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
January 26, 2025 // Updated: January 25, 2025
What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

Proposed legislation could help modernize state’s justice system (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
January 21, 2025 // Updated: January 22, 2025
First Lady Sarah Stitt, who is serving as Senior Policy Advisor on the Women’s Justice Commission, joined other state leaders for the Commission’s conference in Tulsa last week. The Commission, chaired by former Obama Attorney General Loretta Lynch, is part… Read more [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Lawmakers should solve problems, not hide them | Early budget picture signals Oklahoma returning to scarce funding | More

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
January 19, 2025 // Updated: January 18, 2025
What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In… Read more [More...]

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