Articles
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Budget & Tax
Capping vital deductions is bad policy
Some lawmakers searching for more revenue are trying to increase personal income taxes on Oklahoma families and small business owners – all while common sense ways to control spending are stymied by bureaucrats, special interests, and tax consumers. The latest tax raising idea proposed at the State Capitol is to cap personal itemized deductions on state personal income tax returns. They claim that the proposed cap, at $17,000, would only impact the rich. The Oklahoma Tax Commission disagrees.Jonathan Small | May 12, 2017
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
The Bogus Budget: Medicaid expanded anyway
Oklahoma lawmakers refused to bow to the demands of the Obama Administration and Oklahoma Health Care Authority.Trent England | May 11, 2017
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Energy
OPI attack of Devon Energy not based on facts
Good numbers are only good and reliable if they are actually based in reality.Jonathan Small & Steve Anderson | May 10, 2017
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Budget & Tax
The Bogus Budget: Revolving funds and spinning politicians
Maybe they’re called “revolving funds” because they help politicians to spin?Trent England | May 10, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Statement from former U.S. Senator Dr. Tom Coburn on efforts to increase personal income taxes
Yesterday, the House and Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget passed House Bill 2347, which caps personal itemized deductions effective January 1, 2017. Dr. Tom Coburn has issued the following statement regarding efforts to have the bill approved by the entire legislature and sent to the Governor for approval.Tom Coburn | May 10, 2017
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Budget & Tax, Education
The Bogus Budget: Money for schools
Can a government agency be so important that it must not be questioned or held to account? Of course, that would be absurd. It would guarantee waste, or worse.Trent England | May 9, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Statement on legislative attempts to cap personal itemized deductions
Today, the House Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget passed House Bill 2347, which caps personal itemized deductions at $17,000 effective January 1, 2017. OCPA Chairman Larry Parman and OCPA President Jonathan Small issued the following statement regarding this action.Jonathan Small & Larry Parman | May 9, 2017
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Education
Okmulgee Public School teachers drop OEA, elect new representative
On May 2 the certified teachers of Okmulgee Public Schools elected Professional Okmulgee Educators to serve as their new bargaining representative over the local affiliate of the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA).Jay Chilton | May 8, 2017
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Budget & Tax, Agriculture
How soda taxes hurt farmers
These values do highlight the fact that whatever benefits are produced by these sorts of public health initiatives, they must be weighed against the cost.Jayson Lusk | May 8, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Misleading claims versus the truth about state spending
Gov. Mary Fallin recently has made several presentations offering a doom-and-gloom picture of Oklahoma’s government agencies.Curtis Shelton | May 5, 2017