Articles
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Economy
IRS data suggest Oklahoma’s real growth engine isn’t subsidy schemes—it’s economic freedom
For years, Oklahoma politicians chased mega-projects with giant subsidy offers—and mostly lost. But newly released IRS data show that the state did far better by cutting taxes and expanding economic freedom.Ray Carter | March 23, 2026
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Economy
Credit upgrade defies prior doomsday predictions
In 2019, an economist claimed Oklahoma government faced ongoing deficits unless income, sales, and oil-and-gas taxes were increased. Policymakers did the opposite—and credit rating agencies now say Oklahoma is more financially stable than ever.Ray Carter | March 17, 2026
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Economy
SQ 832 sounds compassionate—but it would shrink opportunity
Minimum-wage work is often the first rung on the economic ladder—the place where young and inexperienced workers learn basic skills, build confidence, and move quickly into higher-paying roles. But research shows that mandated wage hikes can erase those opportunities.Curtis Shelton | March 12, 2026
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Economy, Culture & the Family
Compassion, consequences, and State Question 832
Support for State Question 832 is often framed as an act of compassion, but compassion without prudence can produce damaging results. SQ 832 would permanently tie future wage increases to the cost of living in major cities like New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.Matt Oberdick | March 11, 2026
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Economy
Socialists promote SQ 832 in Oklahoma
A socialist organization—the Oklahoma City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America—is a leading promoter of State Question 832, a ballot measure that would force Oklahoma’s minimum wage to rise continually based on the cost of living in places like New York City and San Francisco.Ray Carter | March 2, 2026
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Economy
SQ 832 copies policies that raised prices elsewhere
States forcing a $15 minimum wage saw prices rise faster than Oklahoma while experiencing weaker wage growth. With SQ 832 mirroring the same policies that drove up costs and reduced opportunities elsewhere, the data suggest Oklahoma should stick with the approach that’s delivering real wage gains without inflation.Curtis Shelton | February 26, 2026
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Economy
SQ 832 ties Oklahoma wages to NYC socialist mayor’s agenda
If approved, State Question 832 would peg Oklahoma’s minimum wage to the urban-center cost-of-living index. This would effectively allow leaders in high-cost cities, such as Zohran Mamdani, to indirectly dictate Oklahoma’s wage law.Ray Carter | February 17, 2026
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Economy
SQ 832 could raise prices for everyone
SQ 832 would increase Oklahoma’s minimum wage by tying it to the cost of living in expensive urban centers. Research repeatedly shows that significant minimum-wage hikes push up prices in sectors that are heavy on minimum-wage labor.Curtis Shelton | February 5, 2026
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Economy
From minimum-wage mandates to credit-card fees: the same anti-freedom playbook
Efforts to raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage and to push the federal Credit Card Competition Act share a common flaw: a fundamental distrust of free markets.Jonathan Small | February 2, 2026
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Education, Economy
Report: Oklahoma ranks 16th in school choice, trails Arkansas and Texas
A new report ranks Oklahoma 16th nationally for its student-centered funding programs, highlighting the strong performance of the Oklahoma Parental Tax Credit program—but also warning that the state’s $250 million cap is holding back thousands of families who want access to private-school options.Ray Carter | January 28, 2026