Tag: Oklahoma

New report shows tax flight is a myth

Gov. Fallin and other state leaders have set a long-term goal to eliminate Oklahoma’s income tax. One reason frequently offered by opponents of the income tax is that it will encourage people and businesses to move to Oklahoma from other… Read more [More...]

Watch This: Reducing Infant Mortality

Oklahoma has the 6th highest infant mortality rate and 2nd highest black infant mortality rate in the country.  Among black babies, the infant mortality rate in Oklahoma today is comparable to the 1970s national average for all races.  This fantastic… Read more [More...]

Labor force data casts doubt on real strength of Oklahoma’s recovery

June’s jobs report saw Oklahoma’s unemployment rate hold steady at 5.3 percent, the fifth lowest rate in the nation. But the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ household employment survey showed that the number of employed Oklahomans declined by 6,900. To try… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma’s Unemployment Gap: The labor market isn’t colorblind

This post is the first in a three-part series on “Oklahoma’s Unemployment Gap,” examining the persistence of racial disparities in unemployment.  Part One introduces the unemployment gap and presents preliminary descriptive data on state labor market trends by race.  Part… Read more [More...]

Under the Microscope: Task Force begins work scrutinizing tax credits

The Oklahoma tax code is riddled with some 450 ‘tax expenditures’ that reduce state funds by exempting or giving back tax payments for favored groups and activities. Despite widespread rhetoric about the need for serious reform of  tax expenditures, eliminating… Read more [More...]

The pros and cons of managed competition

This post is by Courtney Baker, a summer intern with Oklahoma Policy Institute. Courtney is a senior at Oklahoma State University majoring in political science. In June, government workers at Tulsa’s city hall successfully fought to keep their jobs in… Read more [More...]

Medicaid Matters: New study finds coverage boosts health outcomes and financial security

As states and Washington grapple with ongoing budget shortfalls, the Medicaid program is often in the crosshairs of those calling for major reductions in government spending. But while the costs of funding Medicaid are readily apparent, we should not forget… Read more [More...]

How the Rainy Day formula requires us to make mistakes

Last Monday, State Finance Director Preston Doerflinger announced that the state would be depositing $219 million in the Constitutional Reserve Fund (commonly referred to as the “Rainy Day Fund”) this year. Seen alongside news that lawmakers had to overcome a… Read more [More...]

Quick Take: Rainy Day Fund basics

This is a revised and updated version of a page authored by Paul Shinn from OK Policy’s Online Budget Guide Oklahoma’s Rainy Day Fund helps protect against economic downturns. The Rainy Day Fund (formally known as the Constitutional Reserve Fund)… Read more [More...]

The toll of budget cuts: Programs promoting high-quality teaching and schools under the axe

If Oklahoma is to have any chance of improving our students’ educational performance, we need to support excellence in our teachers and administrators. In recent years, Oklahoma has made such a commitment by investing in research-based professional development programs for… Read more [More...]