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2024 Census data: Oklahoma ranks as 8th poorest state

By: Dave Hamby
September 11, 2025 // Updated: September 12, 2025
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey, released Sept. 11, show that Oklahoma’s poverty rate was 14.9 percent, which means that more than 1 in 7 state residents live in poverty. While the state’s overall poverty rate… Read more More...

Recent Posts

The Weekly Wonk: Comprehensive revenue package fails to get required supermajority in House

By: Courtney Cullison
November 12, 2017 // Updated: November 13, 2017
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...]

What now?

By: David Blatt
November 10, 2017 // Updated: May 1, 2019
A week ago we wrote: “At this point (barring further surprises), special session is likely to conclude with a new budget that averts the doomsday scenario facing the three health and social services agencies but does not address Oklahoma’s chronic… Read more [More...]

How Oklahomans would fare under the Congressional GOP tax plan

By: Gene Perry
November 9, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
A new analysis of the Congressional GOP tax plan reveals that in Oklahoma, the wealthiest 1 percent will receive the greatest share of the total tax cut in year one, and their share would grow through 2027. The value of the… Read more [More...]

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

By: Gene Perry
November 8, 2017 // Updated: November 8, 2017
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...]

This is Oklahoma’s last chance

By: David Blatt
November 7, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Note: This post has been updated to reflect the most recent information (11/7/17: 9:00 pm) You are needed right now to contact your Representative and urge him or her to support the comprehensive budget plan contained in HB 1054. Click… Read more [More...]

Reality Check: Restoring Oklahoma’s Gross Production Tax won’t hurt the economy

By: Gene Perry
November 6, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In a recent editorial, The Oklahoman newspaper accused critics of Oklahoma’s huge tax breaks for the oil and gas industry of ignoring reality. They wrote that the claim that oil and gas companies pay far less taxes in Oklahoma than… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Bill Passed To Raise Taxes On Older Oil Wells But Addiction Programs Could Still Be Cut

By: Courtney Cullison
// Updated: November 6, 2017
In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Click here to subscribe to In The Know and see past editions. Today In The… Read more [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Legislature will likely avoid doomsday, but won’t address chronic budget problems

By: Courtney Cullison
November 3, 2017 // Updated: November 3, 2017
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...]

Oklahomans left guessing by actions in special session (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
// Updated: May 1, 2019
Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 1989-1991. He currently practices law in Tulsa and represents clients at the Capitol. I can’t imagine that any Oklahoma citizen not participating in or observing full time the actions in… Read more [More...]

​I’m an adoptive parent. S​tate budget cuts put my family at risk.

By: Guest
November 2, 2017 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Shelley Cadamy is a native Oklahoman. She has worked in economic development in Oklahoma since 1994 and is a foster/adoptive parent. Nine years ago, I fostered and then then adopted my three kids. They’re biological siblings, now 12, 15, and… Read more [More...]

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