OK Policy Blog

Featured Read

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: Tax increases vs. budget cuts, criminal justice reform bears fruit, and more…

By: Carly Putnam
March 13, 2016 // Updated: March 11, 2016
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...]

Have legislators grasped the seriousness of Oklahoma’s budget crisis? (Capitol Updates)

By: Steve Lewis
March 11, 2016 // 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. You can sign up on his website to receive the Capitol Updates newsletter by email.… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Oklahoma lawmakers abandon school voucher plan

By: Carly Putnam
// Updated: March 11, 2016
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...]

ATTN College Students: Apply for the 2016 Summer Policy Institute

By: Tyler Parette
March 10, 2016 // Updated: March 29, 2016
Oklahoma Policy Institute is excited to announce our fourth annual Summer Policy Institute (SPI) from July 31 – August 3, 2016 at the University of Tulsa. SPI brings together highly-qualified undergraduate and graduate students for an exciting and in-depth learning… Read more [More...]

Upcoming Event: Free public lecture to discuss suicide prevention

By: Carly Putnam
// Updated: May 2, 2019
On March 23, Savannah Kalman of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) will give a free, public lecture on suicide prevention in Oklahoma. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Oklahomans ages 10-35.… Read more [More...]

Governor Fallin’s new, inclusive approach to criminal justice reform is bearing fruit

By: Ryan Gentzler
March 9, 2016 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Early last year, Governor Fallin issued an executive order to establish the Oklahoma Justice Reform Steering Committee to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce the prison population and improve public safety. The committee, composed of the Governor, President Pro Tem… Read more [More...]

Norman Superintendent, Cherokee Nation business leader join OK Policy Board

By: David Blatt
March 8, 2016 // Updated: March 8, 2016
Oklahoma Policy Institute is pleased to announce that Dr. Joseph (Joe) Siano, Superintendent of Norman Public Schools, and Charles (Chuck) Garrett, executive vice president at Cherokee Nation Businesses, have joined our Board of Directors. “We are delighted to add two… Read more [More...]

Why tax increases would be less harmful to Oklahoma’s economy than budget cuts

By: Gene Perry
March 7, 2016 // Updated: May 2, 2019
With the oil and gas industry in freefall and a state budget hole that has grown to $1.3 billion, Oklahoma lawmakers’ best budget scenario this year is to find the least bad among many terrible options. While the federal government… Read more [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: Time to tap the Rainy Day Fund, ending debtors’ prisons, & more…

By: Carly Putnam
March 6, 2016 // Updated: March 6, 2016
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...]

Why the big business attempt to ‘opt out’ of workers compensation was found unconstitutional (Capitol Updates)

By: Steve Lewis
March 4, 2016 // Updated: March 4, 2016
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. You can sign up on his website to receive the Capitol Updates newsletter by email.… Read more [More...]

Search the Blog