Articles
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Budget & Tax, Law & Principles
When dependence on federal funds violates spirit of Oklahoma Constitution
When Oklahoma policymakers rely on and accept federal funds knowing some of those funds are borrowed, they violate the spirit of our own state Constitution. They also act against the better judgment of the majority of Oklahomans.Trent England | November 12, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Free Market Friday: Raise salaries, not taxes
For the sake of teachers, students, their families, the most vulnerable among us and future opportunity for all Oklahomans, we should not raise taxes. The tax increase would catapult Oklahoma to the highest state and local average sales tax rate in the country.Michael Carnuccio | October 30, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Free Market Friday: Common sense and pensions
About a decade ago, the outlook for Oklahoma’s six defined-benefit retirement plans was bleak. Decades of fiscal irresponsibility had put Oklahoma’s government employment pensions in some of the worst conditions in the country.Michael Carnuccio | October 3, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Cut the Federal Gas Tax
There is no need to keep funneling billions of transportation dollars through Washington, D.C. A better idea, already introduced in Congress, is to cut the federal tax and let states make up the difference.Trent England | September 17, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Four Reasons a Sales Tax Hike Is a Bad Idea
Some Oklahomans are talking about centralizing the education system even further by providing additional financing through an increased sales tax. This is a bad idea for several reasons.J. Scott Moody & Wendy Warcholik, Ph.D. | September 17, 2015
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Budget & Tax, Education
Free Market Friday: A new way of funding
Most Oklahoma taxpayers have no idea how our schools are funded. That’s not surprising. Money flows to our schools from a variety of sources, each of which may pay based on different criteria.Michael Carnuccio | August 7, 2015
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Budget & Tax, Education
Oklahoma Budget Writers Show Commitment to Education Funding
In today’s economy, employers will only expand in states that are up to the task of accommodating them. We must have high standards to broaden our base of educated workers and ensure that our students are college and career ready to meet that challenge. By doing so, we can promote the best policy to strengthen our schools.Brian Bingman | August 1, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Be Prepared: Federal-Funds Transparency Makes Sense for Oklahoma
A proposal to prepare the government of Oklahoma for emerging federal budget crises fell short in the 2015 session of the state Legislature. But it wasn’t for lack of trying, or support.Patrick B. McGuigan | August 1, 2015
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Budget & Tax, Education
Free Market Friday: Win-win for education
Some Oklahomans were disappointed this year when state lawmakers gave common education a standstill budget. They say public education is not adequately funded; a standstill means per-student spending will decrease.Michael Carnuccio | July 24, 2015
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Budget & Tax
OCPA officials tout federal-funds transparency
In a recent column in The Journal Record, law professor Andrew Spiropoulos lauded a proposal which “requires state agencies to publicly report the amount and nature of the federal funding they receive and, most importantly, the conditions they accept in exchange for the money.”Brandon Dutcher | July 9, 2015