Oklahoma thinks the unthinkable with health care cuts

Should Oklahoma strip Medicaid health care coverage from people least able to afford insurance on their own? In a state that trails most of the nation in uninsured rates and health outcomes, who could defend this? Should the Department of… Read more [More...]

Whose side are they on? (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...]

Teacher pay raise proposals probably going nowhere this session

Giving Oklahoma’s teachers a pay raise has been proclaimed as one of the highest priorities of legislators and Governor Mary Fallin this session. Despite a $1.3 billion budget shortfall and the near certainty of cuts to all state agencies, including… Read more [More...]

Why volunteer tax preparation is key to keeping Americans out of poverty

Millions of low- and moderate-income working families in the United States benefit from a couple of key tax credits that are among the most important ways that we keep people out of poverty and support children’s development. But to receive… Read more [More...]

The tax shift rears its head

Last week the Oklahoma Senate Finance Committee approved SB 977, a bill that would suspend 23 tax credits for the next two years as a way to partially address the state’s massive budget shortfall. While the bill targets numerous credits,… Read more [More...]

How Governor Fallin wants to fill Oklahoma’s budget hole (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...]

Should Oklahoma broaden the sales tax to more services?

As part of her effort to close the state’s budget shortfall and avoid devastating cuts, Gov. Mary Fallin has proposed $910.5 million in additional revenues in her FY 2017 Executive Budget. The largest revenue item involves changes to the sales… Read more [More...]

Budget Shortfall Information

Next year Oklahoma is facing what could be the largest budget shortfall in state history. Oklahoma Policy Institute is closely monitoring various budget proposals and advocating for the best ideas to close the gap between plummeting state revenues and long-neglected… Read more [More...]

Here are our top priorities for Oklahoma’s 2016 legislative session

Over 1,700 bills and resolutions have been introduced for the 2016 legislative session, along with an equal number of measures from last session that remain alive and could still be considered this year. Despite the  plethora of legislation, there is… Read more [More...]

Statement: Governor Fallin’s revenue proposals are good starting point

For Immediate Release Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to Governor Fallin’s State of the State address and budget proposal: Governor Fallin has rightfully recognized that Oklahoma has a revenue problem and that we must find new… Read more [More...]