Articles
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
Oklahoma food-stamp numbers raise fraud concerns
Federal audits estimate that more than 10 percent of Oklahoma’s SNAP payments go to unqualified recipients, a rate that could saddle the state with up to $226 million in annual penalties under a new federal law.Ray Carter | November 4, 2025
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
OCPA urges fraud review of state SNAP benefits
OCPA President Jonathan Small today called on state officials to conduct a thorough review of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Oklahoma, noting that public data suggests a significant amount of fraud may be present.Staff | November 4, 2025
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Budget & Tax, Good Government
Oklahoma Democrats decry government shutdown caused by D.C. Democrats
Three weeks into the federal government shutdown, Oklahoma Democrats are blaming Republicans for the looming loss of food-stamp benefits—even as Democratic leaders in Washington continue to block multiple GOP efforts to reopen the government.Ray Carter | October 21, 2025
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Budget & Tax
Report hails Oklahoma government for financial stability
A new national report shows Oklahoma has gone from budget chaos to one of the most financially stable states in the nation. Truth in Accounting’s “Financial Status of the States 2025” ranked Oklahoma 16th best and awarded it a “B” grade.Ray Carter | September 29, 2025
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma hailed as leader on state pension reform
For years, Oklahoma was ranked near the bottom of the 50 states based on the unfunded liabilities of its state pension systems. But reforms that took effect a decade ago have totally changed those statistics, and experts participating in a recent legislative study told lawmakers Oklahoma is now considered a national model.Ray Carter | August 20, 2025
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Budget & Tax
OSSAA generates millions annually
The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA), the governing body for high school sports and competitions, collected $9.7 million in revenue in 2024, with net income of $1.3 million, while paying its executive director nearly a quarter-million dollars annually.Curtis Shelton | August 19, 2025
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Budget & Tax
The real cost of ‘top two’: Taxifornia shows us what happens
Since adopting the “top-two” election model in 2010, California has seen a dramatic spike in taxes and an exodus of residents and income.Curtis Shelton | August 5, 2025
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Budget & Tax
SQ 832: National costs, local consequences
State Question 832, appearing on Oklahoma’s June 2026 ballot, proposes a steep minimum-wage hike that would tie future increases to the cost of living in high-priced urban areas like San Francisco and New York.Curtis Shelton | July 28, 2025
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Budget & Tax
Casinos win big while Oklahomans pick up the tab?
Despite earning $7.4 billion in gaming revenue in FY 2023, Oklahoma’s tribal casinos paid the state only $208 million—an effective tax rate of just 2.8%. That’s far lower than the taxes paid by everyday Oklahomans on income and basic goods.Ray Carter | July 28, 2025
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Big Beautiful relief for Oklahoma’s state budget
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” introduces a work requirement for Medicaid-expansion enrollees aged 19 to 64. This will help alleviate the unsustainable welfare growth in Oklahoma’s state budget.Curtis Shelton | July 10, 2025