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

Guest blog (Michelle Cantrell): The Case for SQ 744

By: David Blatt
September 20, 2010 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In the spirit of full and vigorous debate on state policy issues, OK Policy is pleased to post this guest blog by Michelle Cantrell challenging our position on State Question 744.  Michelle is the mother of three boys in the… Read more [More...]

New data on poverty and uninsured show recession's continued effects

By: David Blatt
September 16, 2010 // Updated: May 2, 2019
The U.S. Census Bureau today released its annual report on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage for 2009 based on its March Current Population Survey.  The data reflected the severity of the recession throughout 2009: the national poverty rate rose… Read more [More...]

State revenue forecasts: Looking backward

By: Paul Shinn
September 15, 2010 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Last year at this time, OK Policy began a revenue forecasting project. Our efforts stemmed from the limitations of official revenue forecasting efforts, which are limited to two annual forecasts prepared for the Board of Equalization, issued in December and… Read more [More...]

SQ 744: Whichever ways revenues go, education spending must go up

By: David Blatt
September 13, 2010 // Updated: May 2, 2019
For anyone who thinks that balancing the state budget in the midst of an economic downturn and declining revenue collections isn’t a tough enough challenge already, just wait to see what happens if Oklahoma voters approve State Question 744. Because… Read more [More...]

Richer measure of poverty on its way

By: David Blatt
September 10, 2010 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Next week, the U.S. Census Bureau will release its annual report on poverty in the United States. The report will tell us how many Americans had income in 2009 below the federal poverty level, which is $18,310 for a family… Read more [More...]

Assets can build the bridge from the safety net to self-sufficiency

By: David Blatt
September 8, 2010 // Updated: May 2, 2019
An front-page USA Today article last week reported that government anti-poverty programs – including Medicaid health insurance coverage, food stamps, unemployment benefits and welfare cash assistance – are now assisting one in six Americans and are continuing to expand.  Anyone… Read more [More...]

These go up to 11: Sorting the State Questions on the November Ballot

By: David Blatt
September 6, 2010 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Oklahoma voters have the great good fortune this November to decide the fate of no less than 11 proposed constitutional amendments on matters ranging from education funding and health care reform to judicial nominations and (we kid you not) Sharia… Read more [More...]

On Labor Day, thinking of those without jobs

By: David Blatt
September 5, 2010 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In honor of Labor Day weekend, Scott Simon, host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday, offered this touching essay urging us to keep in mind “the millions of Americans who don’t have jobs, but who in many ways work harder than… Read more [More...]

Upcoming Event: Fall Forum for child advocates

By: David Blatt
September 3, 2010 // Updated: May 2, 2019
The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy’s annual Fall Children’s Legislative Forum will be held Tuesday, October 12th and Wednesday, October 13th.  The theme this year is “Protect Kids”, and the main goal of the event will be to create consensus… Read more [More...]

Revenue from voter-approved "sin taxes" grew in FY 10, but pace is slowing

By: David Blatt
September 1, 2010 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In 2004, Oklahoma voters approved a series of measures intended to raise new revenues for education and health care through a state lottery (SQ 705 and 706), gaming compacts (SQ 712), and increased tobacco taxes (SQ 713).  OK Policy has… Read more [More...]

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