Articles

Oklahoma’s budget crunch has been much in the news lately. But imagine how much worse the situation could be.

The predictions were dire. Nursing homes and hospitals would close. Pregnant women in labor wouldn’t receive care. Thus the story told by state agency officials and lobbyists for big hospital corporations. The only way to prevent catastrophe was to raise taxes and massively expand Medicaid to able-bodied adults.

University of Oklahoma President David Boren is promoting a sales tax increase to finance a $5,000 pay raise for all teachers and $125 million for higher education.

When it comes to measuring the true progress of our society, 
this particular metric leaves a lot to be desired.

The recent media coverage of the state’s budget condition has resulted in a plethora of ideas on how to deal with the situation. Some of the ideas have merit, while others (such as raising taxes) are simply counterproductive. There are plenty of sensible solutions which don’t involve extracting more money from our fellow citizens.

Session has begun and tobacco users are in bureaucrats’ crosshairs. Tax consumers desire a massive cigarette tax increase to maintain government spending that our private sector economy cannot sustain.

In 2016, it’s time for policymakers to get serious about “right-sizing” government. 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?

We are proposing a tax reform for Oklahoma that would reduce Oklahoma's personal income tax rate by 0.25 percentage points each year over the next 20 years. This proposal would ensure adequate revenues for the state, impose fiscal discipline on spending, and, most importantly, improve the incentives to work, save, and produce in Oklahoma. These improved incentives will accelerate the state's economic growth rate and help diversify Oklahoma's economy.

President Obama was supposed to unite. In 2008 University of Oklahoma President David Boren endorsed Obama, saying: “Our most urgent task is to end the divisions in our country, to stop the political bickering, and to unite our talents and efforts. Americans of all persuasions are pleading with our political leaders to bring us together. I believe Senator Obama is sincerely committed to that effort. He has made a nonpartisan approach to all issues a top priority.”

It’s time to make Oklahoma better by getting people back to work and families back together.