Articles
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Good Government
A fractured, fragmented mess
Oklahoma government is a fractured, fragmented, poorly organized mess. It’s time Oklahoma reform the structure of state government by making most agency heads appointed directly by the governor. It’s time to command performance, effectiveness, and efficiency.Jonathan Small | December 14, 2018
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Health Care
Eliminate barriers to free-market principles in health care
The White House released a policy report outlining their solutions for health care reform. In their report, they urged Congress and states to eliminate unnecessary regulatory barriers that impede competition and choice in America’s health care system.Kaitlyn Finley | December 14, 2018
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Budget & Tax
November 2018 shows state on track for a surplus
November 2018 gross receipts set a record high of $1.03 billion, and the General Revenue Fund beat the estimate by $75 million in November 2018. Legislative changes have accounted for 72 percent of revenue growth for this fiscal year.Curtis Shelton | December 13, 2018
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Budget & Tax
How money walks: Texas
Texas has gained $46.99 billion from wealth migration since 1992. Oklahoma has lost the most wealth to Texas with $1.54 billion moving from Oklahoma to Texas.Curtis Shelton | December 12, 2018
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Budget & Tax
A look at November 2018 revenue collections
November 2018 gross receipts grew $140 million from the prior year to $1.03 billion. Economic growth accounted for 56 percent of the growth in revenue.Curtis Shelton | December 12, 2018
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Health Care
New director, new direction
If you haven’t heard, Oklahoma’s Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust is searching for a new director. But what this small state agency with a giant bank account really needs is a new direction.Jonathan Small | December 7, 2018
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Health Care
Congress must follow states’ initiative and reform Medicaid
To ensure the longevity of Medicaid, Congress should change the funding model and implement block grants that give states the flexibility to innovate and introduce cost-saving measures that deliver better care to their most vulnerable constituents.Kaitlyn Finley | December 6, 2018
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Budget & Tax
Boom and bust: Oil and gas prices push and pull state tax collections
Oil and natural gas prices have a significant impact on state tax collections. Oklahoma would benefit from a more diverse economy and from tax reforms that reduce volatility in state revenue collections.Curtis Shelton | December 5, 2018
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Education
Moms tipped governor’s race
Why did 100,000 African-American women in Florida vote for Trump-backed Republican Ron DeSantis over Andrew Gillum, a Democrat vying to become the state’s first African-American governor?Jonathan Small | November 30, 2018
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Health Care
Medicaid health outcomes questionable
Congress and state legislatures together have spent trillions of dollars on Medicaid and CHIP over the past two decades. At the same time, there has been relatively little research on health outcomes for beneficiaries. Studies so far show mixed results, with some even showing worse outcomes for people on Medicaid than for people with no coverage at all.Kaitlyn Finley | November 21, 2018