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
SQ 832 makes work scarce—and can pressure vulnerable women toward choices they don’t want
SQ 832 would shrink access to work, reduce hours, and inject instability into the very lives already stretched thin—conditions that research shows make many pregnant women feel abortion is their only viable option.Jonathan Small, Dave Bond & Matt Oberdick | May 4, 2026
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Education
Sweeping reform aims to confront Oklahoma’s school-produced illiteracy crisis
Gov. Kevin Stitt has signed sweeping legislation designed to address Oklahoma’s school-produced illiteracy crisis.Jonathan Small | May 4, 2026
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Education
School-choice opponents think everyone is ‘rich’
As lawmakers move to raise the cap on Oklahoma’s popular Parental Choice Tax Credit program, opponents have shifted to arguing that most participating families are “rich”—a claim contradicted by state data.Jonathan Small | April 27, 2026
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Budget & Tax
TSET failure shows need for reform
We don’t need to endure another quarter-century of failed spending schemes by unelected bureaucrats to know it’s time for TSET to change course.Jonathan Small | April 20, 2026
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Economy
Tax cuts and fiscal restraint have paid off for Oklahoma
Tax cuts and fiscal discipline have produced strong economic results for Oklahoma. Conservative policy works.Jonathan Small | April 13, 2026
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SB 1942 empowers patients and doctors
Senate Bill 1942 reflects a free-market approach that treats patients and doctors like adults capable of negotiating fair prices without government or corporate interference. Lawmakers should give it their support.Jonathan Small | April 9, 2026
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Education
Oklahoma students spend a year less in class—and it shows
Oklahoma’s academic struggles track closely with one of the shortest school years in the nation. Despite per-student revenue of $14,842, student outcomes remain dismal.Jonathan Small | April 6, 2026
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Economy, Culture & the Family
SQ 832 will undercut pro-life efforts by reducing economic stability
SQ 832 would trigger automatic annual minimum-wage increases in Oklahoma tied to national price trends. This model has spurred economic conditions that harm young and low-income workers—and reduce opportunities for women facing difficult pregnancy decisions.Jonathan Small, Dave Bond & Matt Oberdick | March 31, 2026
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Good Government
Devon, Expand, and the high cost of a century of bad policy
The loss of headquarters like Devon and Expand is the compounding result of Oklahoma’s long history of bad policy—and Texas’ far earlier embrace of good policy. Texas has had no income tax, lighter regulation, lawsuit reform, and better agency accountability for decades.Jonathan Small | March 31, 2026
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Culture & the Family, Good Government
Mullin’s move to Homeland Security highlights years of public and private service
Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation as U.S. Department of Homeland Security secretary marks a moment to acknowledge the breadth of his service to Oklahoma—from growing a family business into a major employer, to representing the state in the U.S. House of Representatives and later the U.S. Senate.Jonathan Small | March 30, 2026
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