OK Policy Blog

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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

What now? With clock ticking, Legislature weighs options to avert Doomsday

By: David Blatt
November 1, 2017 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Last week, lawmakers’ attempt to address the state budget crisis in special session collapsed. They rejected proposals that would have filled the entire budget hole and averted imminent and catastrophic cuts to the three health care and social service agencies —… Read more [More...]

Oklahomans have from now until December 15 to get health insurance for 2018

By: Lydia Lapidus
// Updated: May 2, 2019
This post is by OK Policy intern Lydia Lapidus. Lydia is a recent graduate from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs with a concentration in International Politics. Fall is here, and the Healthcare.gov online marketplace is up and… Read more [More...]

Turnover of state workers climbing as their salaries fall further behind

By: David Blatt
October 31, 2017 // Updated: May 1, 2019
We expect a lot from the Oklahomans who work for state government. These are the men and women we entrust to care for victims of abuse and neglect, supervise the most dangerous criminal offenders, stop the spread of infectious diseases,… Read more [More...]

In The Know: With no budget deal, legislators ‘quickly exhausting all options’

By: Courtney Cullison
October 30, 2017 // Updated: October 30, 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: Lawmakers should listen to their constituents during this special session

By: Courtney Cullison
October 29, 2017 // Updated: October 29, 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...]

Statement: Latest Republican budget plan ignores obvious solutions

By: Gene Perry
October 23, 2017 // Updated: May 1, 2019
Oklahoma Policy Institute issued the following statement on the new budget proposal announced by Governor Fallin and Republican legislative leaders: Since the beginning of special session four weeks ago, the bipartisan framework needed to end our budget emergency has been clear.… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Is there an end in sight for the legislative special session?

By: Courtney Cullison
// Updated: October 23, 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: Lawmakers should listen to Oklahoma voters and pass a comprehensive revenue plan

By: Courtney Cullison
October 22, 2017 // Updated: October 22, 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...]

‘Neglected Oklahoma’ book release parties / Save the date for budget summit

By: Gene Perry
October 20, 2017 // Updated: May 2, 2019
We’re excited to announce the release of a new book from Oklahoma Policy Institute! Neglected Oklahoma: Voices from the Margins is a collection of nineteen essays written for the OK Policy Blog over four years by Oklahoma City writer and social… Read more [More...]

Secret votes and unwillingness to lead are prolonging Oklahoma’s budget stalemate (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
// 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. What’s going on with the special session? I’m reliably informed that Republican House members, in their caucus… Read more [More...]

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