Articles

Oklahoma’s two uniformed service pension systems make it almost impossible for retirees to double dip within their chosen occupations.

Democracy doesn’t work when we let politicians spend future generations’ money. It’s taxation without representation. It’s also something we do every day in the United States and in Oklahoma.

Want a simple description of Oklahoma’s ballot measures? OCPA doesn’t support or oppose ballot measures, but we do provide simple descriptions of what each one would do. Linked to each description is the full text of the measure and details on who is behind them.

How did mankind figure out fire without a government program? These days every new technology has backers who insist they are one more government check away from being the next big thing. That was the Solyndra story, and in Oklahoma, it is the story of wind farm companies.

“Under current law, schools are prohibited from using a portion of school-dedicated property tax revenue on anything other than building-related expenses,” OCPA distinguished fellow Andrew Spiropoulos writes. SQ 801 “amends the state constitution to provide school districts increased authority to use property tax revenue to fund school operations.”

When state government spends federal dollars, it seems like “free” money. After all, state legislators did not impose the taxes. Legislators and other state officials are much less likely to be held accountable for how that money gets spent. Federal officials, on the other hand, can blame the state if the money is poorly used. Nobody is ever on the hook. For taxpayers, this system is a nightmare, but for politicians, it’s perfect.

Politicians love their power. Why? Because they’re people. That’s why government tends to grow, along with cronyism and dependency. In the end, taxpayers always get the bill.

Whatever happened to the idea of public service? And what about respect for government employees?

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of Mark Janus in the Janus v. AFSCME public-sector labor union case this morning.

While teachers descended upon the state Capitol this spring seeking more money for schools, one state agency specifically created to support those same schools was sitting on assets worth $2.4 billion.