Articles
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Budget & Tax
Report: State economy grows even as oil prices remain low
The latest monthly report from the Oklahoma State Treasurer’s office indicates that the state economy continues to grow even as oil prices remain low.Curtis Shelton | March 12, 2019
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Budget & Tax, Good Government
Limited government should also be effective
A limited government shouldn’t mean an ineffective one. Oklahoma’s current government structure pits its executive branch against itself and makes any real reform difficult.Curtis Shelton | March 11, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Coastal fairy tales
Oklahoma’s revenue shortfalls were not the result of coastal fairy tales about tax cuts. They were the result of the Great Recession – and then a recession from a protracted energy price war waged by OPEC – that caused thousands of our fellow Oklahomans to lose their jobs.Jonathan Small | March 8, 2019
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Education
Teacher-liability bills advance
Two bills that would provide liability insurance as a benefit for public school teachers and other school employees are advancing in the Oklahoma Legislature.J.E. McReynolds | March 7, 2019
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Good Government
OCPA statement on agency accountability agreement
After Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leadership announced an agreement on state agency accountability, Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), released the following statement.Staff | March 5, 2019
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Budget & Tax, Good Government
The opportunity cost of Oklahoma’s corporate welfare
Oklahoma lost $152 million in 2017 from corporate incentives and could reduce its total overall tax burden by 2.7 percent if it ended all corporate welfare programs.Curtis Shelton | March 4, 2019
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Education
Education tax break clears House committee
Legislation is advancing to give Oklahoma parents and guardians an annual state income tax credit of $2,500 per family for use in paying elementary and secondary educational expenses.J.E. McReynolds | March 1, 2019
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Education
Showing teachers we care
It’s been well-documented how teachers often leave the profession not necessarily because of pay, but because of discipline concerns, disciplinary policies, behavior-related issues, false allegations, and district administration not having their backs. Thankfully, there are two bills this session addressing this issue and showing teachers the respect they deserve.Jonathan Small | March 1, 2019
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Good Government
OCPA statement on legislative efforts to increase accountability
After Oklahoma House and Senate committees advanced bills to give the governor more power over agencies, Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), released the following statement.Staff | February 27, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Energy price declines yet to impact state collections
The decline in oil and gas prices have yet to impact state collections, but gross production numbers will most likely decline in the next few months.Curtis Shelton | February 26, 2019