Articles
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Law & Principles
OBA and far left attack Pruitt
Why would a liberal U.S. senator look to a private state lawyers’ group to go after a member of the president’s Cabinet?Jonathan Small | July 28, 2017
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Budget & Tax
New fiscal rankings show Oklahoma’s strong fiscal condition
The facts support Oklahoma's strong fiscal condition, cast doubt on any claims of notable risk for bond holders of Oklahoma state debt, and contradict calls for higher state taxes in Oklahoma.Jonathan Small & William Freeland | July 24, 2017
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Criminal Justice
Justice reform second chance
When Oklahoma voters approved State Questions 780 and 781 in 2016, they made themselves perfectly clear: Criminal justice reform is a top priority for Oklahoma.Jonathan Small | July 21, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Rainy day fund raid vindicated? Not so fast
After draining all $240 million out of Oklahoma’s Constitutional Reserve Fund, Secretary of Finance Preston Doerflinger decided to then ask the state Attorney General whether doing so was even legal.Trent England | July 19, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Which governors are leading on tax, spending issues?
ALEC recently released its State of the States 2017 report, which analyzes economic policy proposals in governors’ state of the state addresses from across the country.Curtis Shelton | July 17, 2017
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Education
Federal after-school program has ‘nothing to show for it,' Russell says
A multi-million-dollar federal education program, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grants program, has “nothing to show for it,” U.S. Rep. Steve Russell says.Jay Chilton | July 17, 2017
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Education
Comparing Oklahoma school districts to surrounding states
Amidst discussion of funding for public education, an important point is often overlooked: the sheer number of school districts within Oklahoma and the administrative costs that accompany them.Hallie Milner | July 17, 2017
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Culture & the Family
Hope for foster kids
At any given time, there are several thousand Oklahoma children in foster care, often due to abuse or neglect.Jonathan Small | July 14, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Rating agencies used as weapons against taxpayers
It’s no secret that Oklahoma is hurting because Oklahomans are hurting.David Autry | July 14, 2017
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Law & Principles
A tribute to State Question 640
As lawmakers navigated through the final days of the 2017 legislative session, with debates over budget gaps and proposed tax increases, some who love the idea of soaking the taxpayers for all they can get bemoaned the existence of one of the most important constitutional safeguards in state history: State Question 640, passed overwhelmingly by the voters in 1992.Jonathan Small | July 13, 2017