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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

In The Know: Oklahoma Democrats expected to block proposed bond issues

By: Gene Perry
May 8, 2012 // Updated: May 8, 2012
In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. E-mail your suggestions for In The Know items to gperry@okpolicy.org. You can sign… Read more [More...]

Guest Blog (Mike Connelly): The questions we should be asking about criminal justice reform

By: Gene Perry
May 7, 2012 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Mike Connelly was the first research director the now-defunct Oklahoma Sentencing Commission in the 1990s.  He went on to direct sentencing commissions in Maryland and Wisconsin before returning to Oklahoma to manage the state DOC’s Evaluation & Analysis unit until… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Speaker expects budget and tax cut deal within 2 weeks

By: Gene Perry
// Updated: May 7, 2012
In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. E-mail your suggestions for In The Know items to gperry@okpolicy.org. You can sign… Read more [More...]

Sample Messages

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
May 4, 2012 // Updated: May 2, 2019
You can use the information below for emails, letters and phone calls to legislators. CLICK HEREfor subject-specific fact sheets and CLICK HERE for names and contact information of elected officials you should contact 1A: HERE IS A SAMPLE FIRST PARAGRAPH… Read more [More...]

The Weekly Wonk: May 4, 2012

By: Kate Richey
// Updated: July 25, 2015
What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk is dedicated to this week’s events, publications, and blog posts. This week OK Policy discussed how much like last year, ambitious talk of reining in tax expenditures has amounted… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Legislature nears budget agreement, uncertain about tax cuts

By: Kate Richey
// Updated: May 4, 2012
In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. E-mail your suggestions for In The Know items to gperry@okpolicy.org. You can sign… Read more [More...]

Poll dancing: Advocates exaggerate public support for tax cuts

By: Kate Richey
May 3, 2012 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Supporters of income tax cuts have been touting a recent poll that purports to show strong support for tax cuts in Oklahoma.  A telephone survey of 500 registered voters were asked four questions about tax cuts, tax credits, and the… Read more [More...]

In The Know: Senator seeks fraud investigation of Chesapeake

By: Gene Perry
// Updated: May 3, 2012
In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. E-mail your suggestions for In The Know items to gperry@okpolicy.org. You can sign… Read more [More...]

Tax Cut Talking Points

By: Oklahoma Policy Institute
May 2, 2012 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Why Tax Cuts Are Not the Right Priority for Oklahoma Eliminating the income tax is fiscally reckless. Once we decide to cut taxes, we cannot reverse course if things don’t work out. Credit rating and municipal bond agencies have expressed… Read more [More...]

Upcoming Event: Tax Policy Forum, May 9

By: Gene Perry
// Updated: May 2, 2019
The State Chamber of Oklahoma is hosting a tax policy forum, co-sponsored by OK Policy and the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. Speakers include: Arthur Laffer, PhD, the author of a report being relied on by those pushing to abolish… Read more [More...]

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