Step Up Oklahoma plan adds to the consensus that new revenues are essential

Note: This post was edited on Jan. 28th to reflect updated revenue estimates from the Step Up coalition The new Step Up Oklahoma coalition, a bipartisan group of business and civic leaders and organizations, has put forward a comprehensive plan… Read more [More...]

‘Step Up’ Coalition adds to the conversation, but plenty of work left to do (Capitol Update)

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. There were significant developments this past week regarding the budget crisis. A group of about 70 business… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma’s budget outlook is improving, but major challenges remain

For the first time in four years, lawmakers may begin the 2018 session with more money to appropriate than the year before. This is undeniably good news, coming after multiple sessions when lawmakers started the year with shortfalls ranging from… Read more [More...]

Our 10 most popular posts in 2017

When it comes to Oklahoma politics, 2017 was one of the most tumultuous and unpredictable in history. The year was consumed by a long, still unresolved showdown over the state budget and need for new revenues, with shifting coalitions, unusual… Read more [More...]

Cost of oil and gas tax breaks continues to approach $400 million

Tax breaks for the oil and gas industry will continue to cost Oklahoma close to $400 million this year and next, based on new data from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. At the December Board of Equalization meeting, the Tax Commission… Read more [More...]

What will it take to force action on passing recurring revenue? (Capitol Update)

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. Chinese water torture is a process in which water is slowly dripped onto a person’s forehead allegedly… Read more [More...]

SQ 640 has made Oklahoma ungovernable

[Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that nothing else was on the ballot with SQ 640. It shared the ballot with the Presidential primary election in 1992.] In March 1992, Oklahoma voters approved State Question 640. It passed… Read more [More...]

Join us for the 2018 State Budget Summit

As Oklahoma’s 2018 legislative session approaches, the state continues to struggle with huge and chronic budget shortfalls and an inability to make the critical investments needed to ensure our prosperity and well-being. We are seeing real and encouraging signs of… Read more [More...]

Nobody wants to go back for a second special session. Here’s why it’s still necessary.

For eight long weeks this fall, Oklahoma lawmakers met in special session, trying to produce a budget agreement that would fill an immediate funding hole for three state agencies and produce a longer-term solution to continuing budget shortfalls. That attempt… Read more [More...]

Budget Trends and Outlook – December 2017

Download this fact sheet as a pdf here. Oklahoma faces a large budget hole this year and a larger one next year. The state Supreme Court in August struck down a cigarette fee that was expected to provide $214 million… Read more [More...]