Articles
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Education
Test results show no academic improvement after Oklahoma’s school spending spree
Though funding for Oklahoma’s public schools has skyrocketed since 2013, test scores in both reading and math are far lower today than in 2013.Ray Carter | January 29, 2025
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Budget & Tax
Stitt seeks income-tax cut
Gov. Kevin Stitt announced he will seek to cut Oklahoma’s personal income tax from the current rate of 4.75 percent to 4.25 percent this year—while also putting the state on a path to eliminating the tax altogether.Ray Carter | January 29, 2025
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Health Care
Conference offers escape from excessive health care prices
The health care “price transparency” movement originated in large part with some free-market doctors in Oklahoma. A national conference being held April 9-11 in Oklahoma City is a testament to how far the movement has come.Ray Carter | January 29, 2025
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Higher Education
Oklahoma regional colleges emphasize affordability
Against a background in which college tuition increases have far outpaced inflation in recent decades, the overseers of several Oklahoma regional colleges are working to push back against that trend.Ray Carter | January 28, 2025
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Education
Senate Education Committee leaders seek longer school year, other reforms
The leaders of the Senate Education Committee have unveiled an agenda that includes lengthening the school year in Oklahoma, moving school-board elections to boost public input, and eliminating “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) programs on college campuses.Ray Carter | January 28, 2025
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Education
Stitt, Paxton, Hilbert laud Oklahoma education-freedom ranking
Oklahoma has been ranked one of the best states in the nation for educational freedom. The ranking drew praise from Oklahoma’s governor and legislative leaders.Ray Carter | January 28, 2025
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Budget & Tax
A look at Oklahoma public safety spending
Funding for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety has been mostly flat over the last two decades, with small ups and downs through the years.Curtis Shelton | January 24, 2025
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Energy
Oklahoma state treasurer: ESG ruling a ‘resounding validation’
Oklahoma State Treasurer Todd Russ says a recent federal court ruling—which concluded that “environmental, social, and governance” (ESG) investing violates the fiduciary duty of pension plan managers—is a “resounding validation” of Oklahoma law.Ray Carter | January 23, 2025
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Law & Principles
Study: California ‘open’ primary didn’t boost turnout
Those who want Oklahoma to enact a California-style “top two” primary claim that the California system would increase voter turnout in Oklahoma elections. However, research from California shows that isn’t necessarily true.Ray Carter | January 23, 2025
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Higher Education
As Trump nixes DEI, foolishness persists in Oklahoma higher ed
On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order abolishing “illegal and immoral discrimination programs” (DEI) in the federal government. We still have work to do in Oklahoma.Brandon Dutcher | January 22, 2025