Articles
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Education
School choice is (still) popular in Oklahoma
Consistent survey results (and election results) showing the popularity of educational choice should cause legislators to defend and expand Oklahoma’s voucher and tax-credit programs.Brandon Dutcher | August 9, 2024
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Education
Oklahoma beats Texas on school choice—for now
Based on comments from Texas politicians, recent Texas state election results, and the results of public polling in the Lone Star State, Texas could soon join Oklahoma in offering robust school choice.Ray Carter | August 8, 2024
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Higher Education
‘No one is losing their jobs’: After Stitt executive order, OU DEI rebranded
In December 2023, Gov. Kevin Stitt issued an executive order seeking to downsize or eliminate “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) offices and bureaucracy. But at the University of Oklahoma, it appears college officials responded to the order primarily by relabeling DEI offices and positions, and no DEI staff positions were eliminated.Ray Carter | August 7, 2024
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Judicial Reform
Oklahoma Supreme Court rewrites an insurance contract
Many Oklahoma Supreme Court justices have an uncanny ability to find ambiguity in statutes and contracts where none exists. They consistently employ this special power to expand legal liability and assist plaintiffs in their quest for damages.Ryan Haynie | August 7, 2024
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Budget & Tax
A look at Oklahoma mental-health spending
In his continuing blog series on spending trends at Oklahoma's largest state agencies, OCPA's Curtis Shelton looks at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS).Curtis Shelton | August 7, 2024
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Education
Number of Oklahoma schools serving special-needs students continues to grow
An Oklahoma scholarship program serving children with special needs, adoptive children, and foster children allows students to use tax dollars to pay for private-school tuition. The average scholarship is $7,968 and the number of participating schools continues to grow.Ray Carter | August 6, 2024
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Economy
No-income-tax states outpacing Oklahoma
IRS interstate migration data show that states with no personal income tax are outpacing Oklahoma, particularly when it comes to attracting higher-income individuals.Ray Carter | August 5, 2024
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Judicial Reform
Oklahoma Supreme Court justices are legislating from the bench
The Oklahoma Supreme Court controls dictionary definitions with the untethered freedom of a fiction writer—and does so after a law has been passed. That effectively makes the Court both the legislative and judicial branch in one entity.Jonathan Small | August 5, 2024
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Energy
ESG study criticized for ‘significant flaws’; UCO prof defends work
According to the American Accountability Foundation, ESG interests paid a UCO professor about $6,800 “to manufacture a ‘study’ showing that anti-ESG laws are bad.”Ray Carter | August 2, 2024
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Law & Principles, Culture & the Family
As ‘gender identity’ controversy escalates, Oklahoma pushes back against Biden regulation
Even as controversy intensifies regarding “glorified male violence against women,” a federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction that prevents the Biden administration from forcing Oklahoma schools to allow men to use women’s bathrooms and locker rooms.Ray Carter | August 1, 2024