Time running out for legislators to come up with a budget plan (Capitol Updates)

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. You can sign up on his website to receive the Capitol Updates newsletter by email.… Read more [More...]

This gas tax fix could level Oklahoma’s revenue rollercoaster

Many Americans have reason to celebrate when gas prices drop. In states that aren’t as dependent on the oil and gas industry for jobs and tax revenues, low prices can help the finances of regular families and boost the economy… Read more [More...]

What I didn’t get from my tax cut (Guest post: Erin Taylor, PhD)

Erin Taylor, PhD, is a mother to five children and a disability advocate. This year I will receive my lavish savings from Oklahoma’s latest tax cut.  It’s likely in the vicinity of $90. What I did not receive, thanks to… Read more [More...]

Health Department cuts mean increased disease and risk of death (Capitol Updates)

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. You can sign up on his website to receive the Capitol Updates newsletter by email.… Read more [More...]

Is this the year Oklahoma takes action to stop losing millions in unpaid online sales taxes?

Among her proposals to address the state’s enormous budget hole in last month’s State of the State address, Governor Mary Fallin called for “sales tax modernization.” Modernization could have several components, including broadening the sales tax to cover more services… Read more [More...]

Have legislators grasped the seriousness of Oklahoma’s budget crisis? (Capitol Updates)

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. You can sign up on his website to receive the Capitol Updates newsletter by email.… Read more [More...]

Why tax increases would be less harmful to Oklahoma’s economy than budget cuts

With the oil and gas industry in freefall and a state budget hole that has grown to $1.3 billion, Oklahoma lawmakers’ best budget scenario this year is to find the least bad among many terrible options. While the federal government… Read more [More...]

Budget Trends and Outlook – March 2016

Download this fact sheet as a pdf. The state faces a huge budget shortfall As a result of revenue collections coming in below projections, mid-year revenue failures were declared in December and February. Agencies were cut by 7 percent of… Read more [More...]

Oklahoma should tap the Rainy Day Fund now to ease mid-year cuts

As Oklahoma grapples with a rapid decline in state revenue collections, agency budgets have already been cut once this year, and a second round of even greater cuts has just been announced. Oklahoma’s Rainy Day Fund was designed specifically to… Read more [More...]

Bad Bet: Fantasy sports bills could put state gaming revenues at risk

In 2004, Oklahoma voters approved State Question 712, which established legal compacts between the state of Oklahoma and Native American tribes to regulate tribal gaming. Under the gaming compacts, tribes contribute over $125 million to the state, which goes almost… Read more [More...]