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

A look at leadership in the state House and Senate (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
January 11, 2023 // Updated: January 11, 2023
The House and Senate went into session for “organizational day” last week and the leadership teams in each chamber were formally elected. There wasn’t a lot of change in either chamber. House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, was elected for an… Read more [More...]

Housing is unaffordable for Oklahoma’s low-wage workers

By: Sabine Brown
January 9, 2023 // Updated: November 17, 2023
Updated, 11/6/2023 to reflect updated statistics for Oklahoma from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.  — Oklahomans working a full-time job should be able to provide basic needs for themselves and their families, but 2 in 5 Oklahomans are unable… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Expanding unemployment insurance | Investing in our state’s needs | Envisioning a better Oklahoma for everyone

By: Hana Saad
January 7, 2023 // Updated: January 7, 2023
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...]

Expanding unemployment insurance to more workers would protect families and Oklahoma’s economy

By: Gabriela Ramirez-Perez
January 4, 2023 // Updated: January 7, 2023
Unemployment insurance became a lifeline to many Oklahomans during the pandemic. In a period of widespread job loss, the transfer payments that this program provided working people with the means to feed their families and pay the bills while they… Read more [More...]

Balancing state savings versus investments in Oklahoma’s needs (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
January 3, 2023 // Updated: January 3, 2023
The state Board of Equalization met last week to certify the amount of funds that will be available for appropriation in the next legislative session. The amount of the certification is based on an econometric model used by the Oklahoma… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Expanding taxes on services would diversify state revenue | Capitol Update | Together OK Community Meeting

By: Hana Saad
December 16, 2022 // Updated: December 16, 2022
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...]

Tax cuts expected to be considered during upcoming session (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
December 13, 2022 // Updated: December 13, 2022
One of the most important battles next year will be over how much and what kind. Of course, I’m referring to tax cuts. At a recent State Chamber public affairs event, legislative leaders signaled there will be a renewed focus… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Expanded health care is helping Oklahoma’s children | Addressing oral health | Senate committee chairs announced

By: Hana Saad
December 10, 2022 // Updated: December 10, 2022
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...]

New report shows Oklahoma led nation in improving health insurance coverage, but more than 75,000 Oklahoma children remain uninsured

By: Emma Morris
December 7, 2022 // Updated: December 7, 2022
The rate of Oklahoma children without health care insurance decreased significantly – from 8.6 percent to 7.4 percent between 2019 and 2021, according to a new report from the Georgetown Center for Children and Families. This marked the nation’s largest… Read more [More...]

Dental therapy can improve Oklahoma’s oral health, help address dental workforce shortage

By: Guest
December 5, 2022 // Updated: December 5, 2022
This guest post was written by Michelle Dennison, Vice President of Policies and Prevention at the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, and Julie Seward, the Oral Health Programs Manager at the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board. – – – Oklahoma does… Read more [More...]

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