Authors
Jonathan Small
President
Jonathan Small, C.P.A., serves as President and joined the staff in December of 2010. Previously, Jonathan served as a budget analyst for the Oklahoma Office of State Finance, as a fiscal policy analyst and research analyst for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and as director of government affairs for the Oklahoma Insurance Department. Small’s work includes co-authoring “Economics 101” with Dr. Arthur Laffer and Dr. Wayne Winegarden, and his policy expertise has been referenced by The Oklahoman, the Tulsa World, National Review, the L.A. Times, The Hill, the Wall Street Journal and the Huffington Post. His weekly column “Free Market Friday” is published by the Journal Record and syndicated in 27 markets. A recipient of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s prestigious Private Sector Member of the Year award, Small is nationally recognized for his work to promote free markets, limited government and innovative public policy reforms. Jonathan holds a B.A. in Accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Recent Articles
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Economy, Culture & the Family
‘Worst’ states? Actions speak louder than rankings
Two national media outlets recently ranked Oklahoma among America's worst places to live, but the people actually moving across state lines tell a very different story.Jonathan Small | July 27, 2026
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Law & Principles
How Oklahoma changed under Republican leadership
Claims that Oklahoma has declined under Republican leadership overlook the state's dramatic progress over the past 15 years.Jonathan Small | July 20, 2026
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Law & Principles
Don’t blame the calendar for SQ 832’s defeat
Supporters of State Question 832 have argued that the proposal's defeat was largely the result of being placed on a June ballot, but turnout figures suggest otherwise.Jonathan Small | July 2, 2026
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma welfare rolls are moving in the right direction
Oklahoma’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment fell by 14 percent between February 2025 and February 2026—roughly 97,000 fewer recipients, a decline that outpaced the national average and coincided with increased scrutiny of eligibility verification.Jonathan Small | June 29, 2026
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Law & Principles
Justice Thomas warns: Progressivism threatens America’s founding belief in God-given rights
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recently warned that modern progressivism continues to threaten the founding American principle that human equality and rights are self-evident gifts from God rather than governments.Jonathan Small | June 17, 2026
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Economy
Who pays for SQ 832? You do.
Because businesses ultimately derive their revenue from customers, the hundreds of millions of dollars in additional labor expenses projected under SQ 832 would inevitably be passed along through higher prices, reduced employment opportunities, cuts in hours or benefits, or some combination of all three.Jonathan Small | June 12, 2026
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Economy
The affordability crisis has a common cause: Government
The affordability challenges facing American households today are rooted not in market failure but in government intervention.Jonathan Small | June 6, 2026
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Education
Lawmakers put Oklahoma’s educational future on a better path
This year’s legislative session could mark a turning point for a public school system that has long ranked among the nation’s lowest performers.Jonathan Small | June 1, 2026
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Economy
SQ 832 means higher prices
State Question 832’s ripple effects would include higher prices for all, fewer job opportunities for many, and increased automation as businesses struggle to absorb soaring labor mandates.Jonathan Small | May 26, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Education
Some Oklahoma lawmakers prioritize gambling over education
Some state lawmakers this year opposed expanding a popular school-choice tax credit that helps families afford private education, while supporting a bill to give tax advantages to individuals with large gambling losses.Jonathan Small | May 18, 2026
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