Articles
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Education
Oklahoma’s non-teaching staffing surge
Between 1992 and 2014, Oklahoma’s public schools did in fact receive more money: They increased their spending by 26 percent per student in real terms (adjusted for inflation). Yet over that same time period, average teacher salaries increased by only four percent—and class sizes got bigger.Benjamin Scafidi | November 28, 2017
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Budget & Tax, Good Government
The mission creep
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust is guilty of frivolous spending. TSET promotes smoke-free bars and nightclubs and buys billboard space for "water recipes."Jonathan Small | November 17, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Many films receiving Oklahoma tax rebate produce no box office receipts
A declared goal for the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program is to enhance the image of the state to a nationwide audience. According to the Incentive Evaluation Commission Film Enhancement Rebate Program Draft Report, “the effect on Oklahoma’s image nationwide is unclear, but likely limited.”Jay Chilton | November 15, 2017
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Budget & Tax
TSET paid more than $3 million in eight years to hospital lobbying organization
The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) has given millions of dollars to fund smoking cessation and health-improvement-related charitable organizations since its creation in 2000.Jay Chilton | November 13, 2017
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Budget & Tax
No, it’s not personal
No part of government is too important for hard questions, tough oversight, real accountability, and strict limits on its power.Jonathan Small | November 10, 2017
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Education
Private-school choice boosts college enrollment, graduation
The best test of any school choice program is this simple one: Does it help kids learn more?Mike Brake | November 7, 2017
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Education
Teacher absenteeism is a problem in Oklahoma’s public schools
In Oklahoma, the chronic teacher absenteeism rate for charter schools is around 5 percent. In traditional public schools, it’s 20 percent.J.E. McReynolds | November 7, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Weinstein film cost Oklahoma taxpayers $4.6 million
In 2005, the state of Oklahoma implemented a film incentive program with the goal of attracting movie and television productions to the state. “August: Osage County,” produced and distributed by the Weinstein Company, took advantage of the program in 2013, costing Oklahoma taxpayers more than $4.6 million.Jay Chilton | November 6, 2017
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Budget & Tax, Good Government
Did Harvey Weinstein benefit from Oklahoma’s Hollywood handout?
Current state law provides “a cash rebate of 35-37% on qualifying Oklahoma expenditures to film and television productions filming in the state,” plus a sales tax exemption.Trent England | November 3, 2017
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Good Government
The right path
While Americans have different views about what’s to be done with those who have come to our country illegally, most are open to some form of leniency for those brought here as children.Jonathan Small | November 3, 2017