OK Policy Blog

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Criminalizing homelessness is harmful and ineffective

By: Sabine Brown
March 30, 2024 // Updated: April 1, 2024
Proposals to criminalize homelessness are harmful and counterproductive. Research shows us that the best way to combat homelessness is to increase access to affordable housing. More...

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In The Know: Millions of dollars headed back to Oklahoma state agencies

By: Courtney Cullison
July 21, 2017 // Updated: July 21, 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...]

In The Know: Women Often Ignored In The Conversation On Criminal Justice Reform

By: Courtney Cullison
July 20, 2017 // Updated: July 20, 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...]

In dispute between Republican leaders over DHS funding, here are the facts

By: Gene Perry
July 19, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
It’s been an eventful week for the Oklahoma Legislature, especially considering they are not even in session. The week began with House Speaker Charles McCall and Majority Leader Mike Sanders blasting the Oklahoma Department of Human Services for making cuts… Read more [More...]

New Senate health care draft does not fix bill’s core problems and makes some of them worse

By: Gene Perry
July 17, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Last week, Senate Republican leaders released a “new” version of their health care bill. We wrote before about how the first draft of this bill would make Americans pay more for worse health coverage and how it would undercut the… Read more [More...]

In The Know: ‘Difficult’ budget cuts expected to hurt vulnerable Oklahomans; As criminal justice laws take effect, uncertainty surrounds bigger changes; and more

By: Courtney Cullison
// Updated: July 17, 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: Interim studies could create momentum for criminal justice reform next session

By: Courtney Cullison
July 16, 2017 // Updated: July 14, 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...]

Will interim studies create stronger momentum for justice reform? (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
July 14, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 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. The House legislative interim studies for this summer and fall have been approved, assigned to committees, and… Read more [More...]

Minimum wage isn’t what it used to be – it’s worse

By: Courtney Cullison
July 13, 2017 // Updated: June 14, 2019
The federal minimum wage was established in 1938 at 25¢ an hour (about $4.26 in today’s dollars). Since then it’s been adjusted 29 times to keep up with inflation and rising living standards. The most recent change was in 2009,… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Downgrade in Oklahoma bond rating could impact borrowing costs

By: Ryan Gentzler
// Updated: July 13, 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...]

Oklahoma already led the nation in cuts to K-12 education. Now we lead in cuts to higher ed too.

By: Gene Perry
July 11, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
For several years now, Oklahoma has led the nation in cuts to state aid funding of K-12 schools by reducing state aid per student 26.9 percent since 2008. That’s almost twice as much as the next worst state, Alabama. The results… Read more [More...]

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