Articles
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Budget & Tax
YOU GUEST IT: Lt. Gov. Lamb: Conservative policies work, tax hikes unwise
Over the past four years I’ve focused on Oklahoma’s economy by traveling each year to all 77 counties to visit with small businesses. I routinely ask business owners, “What are our greatest impediments to growth?” We’ve made significant strides, including but not limited to reform of our workers’ compensation system.Todd Lamb | April 22, 2014
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Budget & Tax
Are Tax Hikes and Spending Increases Inevitable?
A great historian with whom I was privileged to study uttered, during an evening class in my years at Oklahoma State University, words that stuck with me through the last four decades: “Nothing is inevitable. Nothing—not the rise and fall of great nations; not the dawning of another day.”Patrick B. McGuigan | March 12, 2014
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Budget & Tax
Let’s Reduce Oklahoma’s Penalty on Work
Other states noticed Oklahoma’s positive growth as we steadily reduced our penalty on work over the past decade. They’re doing everything they can to be more competitive with us. Now, Oklahoma is in danger of taking our foot off the gas and shifting into the slow lane. Instead, we should seize an opportunity to provide additional tax relief to Oklahoma families and job creators.Leslie Osborn | March 12, 2014
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Budget & Tax
YOU GUEST IT: Lawmaker says Oklahomans could use additional tax relief
Recently, a group of 10 state legislators, me included, from the House of Representatives and state Senate introduced a proposal to gradually reduce Oklahoma’s personal income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 4 percent over four years.Leslie Osborn | February 19, 2014
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma Tax Collections, Government Spending Reach All-Time Highs
With the release last month by Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) of the new Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the state of Oklahoma, we now know that total state tax collections and total government spending are at record levels.Jonathan Small | February 12, 2014
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma sales tax collections reach all-time high
On January 2, 2014, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services released the news that for the most recent fiscal year, net state sales tax collections reached an all-time high.Jonathan Small | January 30, 2014
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma tax collections reach all-time high
On January 2, 2014, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services released the news that for the most recent fiscal year, state tax collections reached an all-time high.Jonathan Small | January 22, 2014
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Budget & Tax, Agriculture, Good Government
Do Food Stamps Boost the Economy?
While there is good evidence that SNAP reduces hunger and food insecurity among poor households, there are also legitimate concerns about the program fostering government dependency, reducing the incentive to work, and increasing the government deficit.Jayson Lusk | January 13, 2014
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Budget & Tax
Considerations for public employee compensation
Policymakers are currently considering the pay of state government employees. This exercise is not new, but previous attempts to address the pay of state employees were more influenced by politics than by good policy.Jonathan Small | October 24, 2012
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Budget & Tax
Just Say No to Oklahoma Tax Hikes
Perhaps you've seen various straight-news stories in Oklahoma about state budget cuts, furloughs, and "revenue shortfalls of near-catastrophic proportions" (how's that for objectivity?).Brandon Dutcher | December 31, 2009