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Bail reform should be the solution for Oklahoma’s overcrowded jails

Leslie Briggs was an OK Policy summer intern. She is pursuing a Juris Doctor degree at the University of Tulsa College of Law. Oklahoma voters know that the time is right for criminal justice reform for our state, and they… Read more [More...]

With the doomsday clock ticking, how might the state’s budget emergency be solved?

Last week’s Supreme Court’s ruling that struck down a $1.50 per-package smoking cessation fee passed by lawmakers in May has created a genuine state emergency. Without quick and decisive action, Oklahoma faces unimaginable cuts to health care and other protections… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Oklahoma health providers fear they’ll bear costs after cigarette tax falls

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: Lawmakers must come back to special session and finish job of funding core services

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...]

Pros and cons of House GOP’s “policy working groups” replacing serious interim studies (Capitol Update)

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. On balance, it’s a good thing that House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, with Speaker Charles McCall’s… Read more [More...]

Statement: Lawmakers must go back to special session and finish job of funding core services

The SOS Coalition, which includes Oklahoma Policy Institute and 20 other organizations, released the following statement on today’s Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that threw out a cigarette fee and created a $214 million hole in the budgets of SoonerCare ($70… Read more [More...]

Back to work for lawmakers? It depends on the Supreme Court’s definition of a revenue bill

NOTE: This post was written prior to the Supreme Court’s decision striking down the smoking cessation fee included in SB 845. Click here for the Court’s decision. Here is the statement from the Save Our State coalition, of which OK… Read more [More...]

It’s time to expand Medicaid in Oklahoma

At long last, it appears that the Affordable Care Act will remain the law of the land. Efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act have fallen apart over deep and fundamental schisms around health care within the Republican party, particularly… Read more [More...]

‘Prosecutorial discretion’ makes Oklahoma’s justice system a roll of the dice

All Oklahomans must abide by the same laws. If you break the law, you’re sentenced according to the same statutes. In theory, this should mean that people convicted of a crime in urban Oklahoma County will receive a similar punishment… Read more [More...]

In The Know: OK Supreme Court hearings to be streamed online, Ruling on revenue-raising bills to have big impact

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. Correction: In Friday’s… Read more [More...]

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