Authors
Ray Carter
Director, Center for Independent Journalism
Ray Carter is the director of OCPA’s Center for Independent Journalism. He has two decades of experience in journalism and communications. He previously served as senior Capitol reporter for The Journal Record, media director for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and chief editorial writer at The Oklahoman. As a reporter for The Journal Record, Carter received 12 Carl Rogan Awards in four years—including awards for investigative reporting, general news reporting, feature writing, spot news reporting, business reporting, and sports reporting. While at The Oklahoman, he was the recipient of several awards, including first place in the editorial writing category of the Associated Press/Oklahoma News Executives Carl Rogan Memorial News Excellence Competition for an editorial on the history of racism in the Oklahoma legislature.
Recent Articles
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Health Care, Law & Principles
Oklahoma cases included in massive federal fraud takedown
Federal officials announced that a nationwide health care fraud crackdown has resulted in charges against 455 defendants for schemes involving more than $6.5 billion. Prosecutors reported cases filed in Oklahoma, although details on those charges were not immediately available.Ray Carter | June 23, 2026
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Budget & Tax
Arkansas surges ahead of Oklahoma in tax competition
After cutting its income tax rate to 3.7 percent—well below Oklahoma’s 4.5 percent rate—Arkansas has strengthened its appeal to workers, families, and higher-income earners relocating from other states.Ray Carter | June 22, 2026
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Economy
SQ 832 campaign message clashed with Oklahoma wage reality
While Oklahoma's legal minimum wage will remain at $7.25 an hour, many entry-level occupations already pay substantially more due to competition for workers. In fact, the average wages for jobs highlighted in the pro-SQ 832 campaign advertisements often meet or exceed $15 an hour.Ray Carter | June 22, 2026
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Education
School-choice backers cruise to victory in Oklahoma primaries
Candidates and incumbents who supported school-choice policies scored victories across Oklahoma in the June 16 primary elections, including lawmakers who backed expansion of the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program.Ray Carter | June 18, 2026
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma voters reject SQ 832 in decisive vote
Oklahoma voters rejected State Question 832, a proposal that would have raised the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2029 and then automatically increased it each year thereafter, with roughly 55 percent voting against the measure.Ray Carter | June 17, 2026
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Law & Principles
Voter-integrity group challenges Oklahoma law
The Public Interest Legal Foundation has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Oklahoma’s restrictions on access to statewide voter-registration records.Ray Carter | June 16, 2026
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Law & Principles, Economy
SQ 832 gets final push from socialists before election
Supporters of State Question 832—including members of the Oklahoma City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America—have launched a final statewide canvassing effort to encourage voter approval of a proposal that would raise Oklahoma’s minimum wage.Ray Carter | June 15, 2026
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Economy
SQ 832 wage formula would outpace Oklahoma inflation, critics warn
State Question 832 would more than double Oklahoma’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2029 and then automatically increase it each year using a national inflation index tied to urban wage earners. Critics say this would drive wage mandates far faster than actual inflation in Oklahoma.Ray Carter | June 11, 2026
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Economy
NFIB: SQ 832 will destroy small-business jobs, raise prices
According to the National Federation of Independent Business, SQ 832's substantial increase in labor costs would force many employers to raise prices, reduce hiring, cut jobs, or scale back expansion plans, with rural communities and small businesses facing the greatest challenges.Ray Carter | June 11, 2026
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Economy
As teen jobs decline, experts say SQ 832 could make things worse
A new report projects that teen summer employment in 2026 will reach its lowest level since federal recordkeeping began in 1948. State Question 832 could further limit entry-level job opportunities in Oklahoma.Ray Carter | June 10, 2026
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