OKPOLICY.ORG
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 at Oklahoma Policy Institute, we explained why claims from opponents of SQ 762 are false and misleading. Garfield County Assessor Wade Patterson wrote on the OK Policy Blog that State Question 766 is an example of the Legislature’s lack of understanding and unwillingness to be problem-solvers. You can find information and resources about all of the state questions on the ballot at our 2012 State Questions page.
As we wait on Congress for a permanent fix to the internet sales tax loophole, we detailed the actions that Oklahoma can take immediately to create a more level-playing field for our local brick-and-mortar businesses. We posted an upcoming event, ‘Navigating the Changing World of Consumer Credit, hosted by the Oklahoma Jump$tart Coalition.
OK Policy analyst Gene Perry was quoted in a Governing magazine article about managed competition for public contracts. Our Director David Blatt wrote in The Journal Record about the decisions voters will face on election day.
Policy Notes
- Wonkblog examines how the fiscal cliff would affect the poorest Americans.
- Bruce Bartlett shows that if you take popular, broad-based tax deductions off the table, it doesn’t leave many loopholes to be closed to pay for a significant reduction in rates.
- Wonkblog explains the ramifications of Congress letting the Farm Bill lapse.
- The International Federation of Gynecology & Obstetrics outlined over a decade of scientific research behind growing expert consensus that emergency contraception cannot interrupt an established pregnancy, harm a developing embryo, or prevent implantation of a fertilized egg.
- $1.3 billion – Amount allocated to the state’s General Revenue Fund (GRF) in the first quarter of FY 2013, exceeding estimated collections by 1.7 percent
- 7 – Number of states that doubled their rate of obesity over the last 15 years, including Oklahoma
- 22 percent – Percentage of children in Oklahoma who live in neighborhoods with poorly kept or dilapidated housing, compared to 15% nationally in 2007
- 28.6 percent – The average property tax cut for telecommunications companies if State Question 766 passes.
- 77 – Number of counties won by Roosevelt in 1936 and Nixon in 1972, the first time each party swept Oklahoma
