Articles
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Budget & Tax, Education, Higher Education
Free Market Friday: Tax hike unwise
The vast majority of Oklahomans agree that teachers have earned a significant pay raise. But hiking taxes to fund raises is a risky and damaging proposition. Fortunately, my colleagues have identified hundreds of millions of dollars in annual savings in state spending that would fund those raises, with no tax increase at all.Jonathan Small | December 12, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma's shrinking private sector
When it comes to government spending in Oklahoma, the 800-pound gorilla in the room that many people ignore is this simple question: Should government grow faster than the private sector’s ability to pay?Jonathan Small, J. Scott Moody & Wendy Warcholik, Ph.D. | December 2, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma’s shrinking private sector
Jonathan Small, J. Scott Moody & Wendy Warcholik, Ph.D. | December 1, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Free Market Friday: Tax cuts will grow economy
Once each quarter or so, voices from Washington announce how well the American economy is doing. But in reality there are 50 state economies, and what goes on in those 50 state capitol buildings sometimes has a greater effect on local prosperity (or the lack of it) than doings in Washington.Jonathan Small | November 20, 2015
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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