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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...

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Weekly Wonk: Oklahomans deserve more than incremental justice reform | Removing barriers for workforce development | Capitol Update

By: Dave Hamby
September 9, 2023 // Updated: September 9, 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...]

Investments in people can help make Oklahoma’s workforce competitive (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
September 4, 2023 // Updated: September 4, 2023

Instead of using the state's record-level savings as an excuse for ill-advised tax cuts, lawmakers should follow the wise counsel of elected officials who want to see Oklahoma make workforce development investments in job training, education, childcare and other programs that can help residents get good jobs or re-enter the job market. [More...]

Lawmakers made incremental changes towards justice reform last session, but Oklahomans deserve much more

By: David Gateley
// Updated: September 4, 2023

During Oklahoma’s 2023 legislative session, lawmakers made some positive improvements in the state’s criminal legal system, including investments into diversion programs and significant reforms around court fines and fees. While these changes are commendable, they are only the beginning of… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Time to revisit state education governance | Tax isn’t a four-letter word | Sales Tax Relief Credit | More

By: Dave Hamby
September 2, 2023 // Updated: September 2, 2023

Current events show need to revisit education governance (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
August 29, 2023 // Updated: August 29, 2023

State government was dominated these past several weeks by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and the State Department of Education. As the newly elected state superintendent, Walters continued a war of words with Tulsa Public Schools and its… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Gov.’s statements on income tax are short-sighted | Oklahoma must address affordable housing crisis | Capitol Update | More

By: Dave Hamby
August 26, 2023 // Updated: August 28, 2023

Weekly Wonk, Aug 27 * Eliminating income tax would be short-sighted, ignore realities of governing * Oklahoma must address affordable housing crisis * Housing town halls in Ada, Edmond * Legislative priorities survey * Capitol Update [More...]

Lawmakers should clear up conflicting language about remaining in office following criminal pleas, convictions (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
August 22, 2023 // Updated: August 22, 2023

It is unfortunate that Rep. Ryan Martinez, R-Edmond, has had to resign his seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, effective September 1. He is a serious-minded legislator who, as Vice-Chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, had worked… Read more [More...]

Weekly Wonk: Private school vouchers | Evidence-based immigration policy reform | State question process | Capitol Update

By: Dave Hamby
August 19, 2023 // Updated: August 19, 2023

Governor issues executive order to change workforce development responsibilities (Capitol Update)

By: Steve Lewis
August 18, 2023 // Updated: August 18, 2023

Gov. Kevin Stitt filed an interesting executive order last week transferring the Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development from the Department of Commerce to the Oklahoma Employment Security (OESC) Commission and giving OESC control over all money received by the state… Read more [More...]

Private school tax credits will give everyone’s taxes to people who don’t need our help

By: Paul Shinn
August 16, 2023 // Updated: November 20, 2023

While this program could make private and homeschooling more practical or affordable for a few families, taxpayers will mostly be paying for people to do what they were willing to pay for on their own. As a result, we’ll be handing millions of tax dollars to the most well-off among us while propping up private schools, whose enrollment has stagnated in recent years. [More...]

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