Articles
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Budget & Tax
How does Oklahoma rank in Tax Climate Study?
The Tax Foundation recently released its 2018 State Business Tax Climate Index. The report gauges how each state’s tax system compares to the others and ranks each one. In this year’s edition, Oklahoma is ranked 32nd.Curtis Shelton | December 22, 2017
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Budget & Tax
Off the charts
Gov. Mary Fallin, during the regular and first special legislative sessions, repeatedly used a chart showing cuts to state agencies since 2009.Curtis Shelton | December 20, 2017
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Budget & Tax
November Gross Receipts
Oklahoma State Treasurer Ken Miller has released the gross receipts collection numbers for November. His report is good news for state agencies and reflects a recovering Oklahoma economy.Curtis Shelton | December 15, 2017
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Learning from the Health Department
Tens of millions of dollars are missing; criminal investigations are underway. Officials at the State Department of Health, it seems, misspent funds and misled the public about it for at least six years.Jonathan Small | December 15, 2017
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Budget & Tax
When it comes to cost of living, red states win
Blue states generally offer richer social benefits on paper. So at first glance, it seems like you’re better off being poor in California than in Mississippi.Byron Schlomach, Ph.D. | December 11, 2017
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Medicaid costs continue to rise
By refusing to adopt the Obamacare Medicaid expansion, Oklahoma lawmakers stood up for the premise that Medicaid should remain a safety net for the most vulnerable, not an entitlement for able-bodied adults.Trent England | December 11, 2017
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
TSET reforms, Medicaid audits will help the most vulnerable
Medicaid must be dramatically reformed if we are to avoid bankruptcy for the states and return the program to its original goal of helping the most vulnerable.Jonathan Small | December 11, 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