Give us money - please!

View this email in your browser. Dear Friend, It's almost New Year's, you've got a lot to finish up, and you really don't need another long-winded email from us reminding you this is your last chance to make a donation and claim a deduction on your 2018 taxes. So I'll cut to the chase: Oklahoma Policy Institute does essential work as a source of data-driven policy information, analysis and ides. We need your support to make sure that this work continues to have an impact in 2019 and beyond. Please click here to make a tax-deductible donation online. Or send a check to Oklahoma Policy Institute at 907 S. Detroit, Suite 1005, Tulsa, OK 74120. Thank you. Happy New Year! Best, David PS: Do you have your ticket for the State Budget Summit on January 24? If not, click here for the full program, including information on how to apply for a full or partial scholarship, or here to go directly to the registration page to purchase tickets. Our special early bird registration rate of $80 ends January 11th. If you're a current donor, email skantz@okpolicy.org or call 918-794-3944 to get your $10 donor discount. Connect with Us Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

Show us your love!

View this email in your browser. Dear Friend, The question that I and the OK Policy staff probably get asked the most is, "How do you keep going?". Knowing that we operate in a tough climate, where the values we believe and fight for end up on the winning side of the vote all too infrequently at the State Capitol, people wonder what keeps us from giving up and throwing in the towel. My honest answer is that what keeps us going is the support and encouragement we receive from you and so many other Oklahomans. Day after day, when we run into good friends, casual acquaintances, and sometimes complete strangers, we hear how much you rely on Oklahoma Policy Institute to get the facts and to stay informed about what's really happening in Oklahoma. "I don't know what we'd do without you." "You guys give me hope!" "I read In the Know every morning --- okay, most mornings." "Thanks to you, I've become a more informed citizen and engaged advocate." The kind words and sincere gratitude are what keep us going - but kind words don't pay the bills. If you're someone who values the work we do, I hope you'll take this opportunity to show us your love with a tax-deductible contribution of $25, $50, $100 or whatever amount you can afford. Your generous gift will allow us to continue to crunch the numbers, write the fact sheets, and organize the events that are making the difference in informing citizens and persuading policymakers. Thank you for your support, and all the best in the new year! David Connect with Us Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

Urgent: Speak up for SoonerCare families

If this email is not displaying correctly, you can view it in your browser.   Dear Friend, At the direction of the Legislature and Governor Fallin, the state Medicaid agency has made a plan to cut SoonerCare coverage for very low-income parents who don’t meet work and reporting requirements. Earlier this year, more than 1,200 Oklahomans submitted public comments about that proposal, and more than 99 percent of the comments opposed it. Now we need you to speak out again. The state has submitted the proposal to the federal government - and opened another public comment period. We have just a few weeks to speak up again and tell DC why this proposal will harm Oklahoma parents and families. Remember: Most parents enrolled in SoonerCare who can work already do. Most of those who don’t work have barriers to working that this proposal doesn’t fix; Cutting health coverage makes it harder for parents get and keep a job; Loss of health coverage puts whole families at risk for bankruptcy and health emergencies; This proposal creates a catch-22, putting parents at risk of losing Medicaid because they work too much - with no other health coverage options. You can learn more about the plan and submit a comment here by January 18th. Oklahoma families are counting on you - and so are we. Thank you, Sabine Brown Together Oklahoma Coordinator TogetherOK’s success depends on your engagement – and there are many ways for you to get involved. Join Us   Together OK | 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005, Tulsa, OK 74120 | (918) 794-3944 click here to unsubscribe | update subscription preferences | view email in browser

Urgent: Speak up for SoonerCare families

View this email in your browser. Dear Friend, At the direction of the Legislature and Governor Fallin, the state Medicaid agency has made a plan to cut SoonerCare coverage for very low-income parents who don’t meet work and reporting requirements. Earlier this year, more than 1,200 Oklahomans submitted public comments about that proposal, and more than 99 percent of the comments opposed it. Now we need you to speak out again. The state has submitted the proposal to the federal government - and opened another public comment period. We have just a few weeks to speak up again and tell DC why this proposal will harm Oklahoma parents and families. Remember: Most parents enrolled in SoonerCare who can work already do. Most of those who don’t work have barriers to working that this proposal doesn’t fix; Cutting health coverage makes it harder for parents get and keep a job; Loss of health coverage puts whole families at risk for bankruptcy and health emergencies; This proposal creates a catch-22, putting parents at risk of losing Medicaid because they work too much - with no other health coverage options. You can learn more about the plan and submit a comment here by January 18th. Oklahoma families are counting on you - and so are we. Thank you, David Blatt and the OK Policy Team Connect with Us Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S Detroit Ave, Suite 1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 (918) 794-3944 info@okpolicy.org Unsubscribe

Five reasons NOT to donate to OK Policy

Typically, when we reach out to ask you to contribute to Oklahoma Policy Institute, we list all the good reasons we believe you should support our work with a tax-deductible donation. But it's become an end-of-year tradition for us to share a reminder that other people may believe differently. Here are five things you may believe that should lead you NOT to donate to OK Policy.

1. Facts don’t matter

On the state policy issues that matter to most people – from the budget and taxes to education. health care, poverty, and criminal justice – OK Policy puts out reliable information and analysis, driven by data and facts. Resources such as our Online Budget Guide, County Fact Sheets, and Legislative Primer, as well as our daily In The Know, are among the fact-based sources of information that other people count on to understand public affairs in Oklahoma. But if facts don’t matter to you, do not donate to OK Policy!

2. There’s only one side to every debate

When one side holds a near monopoly of power in a state, other points of view can struggle to be heard. Through our blog posts, op-eds, columns and presentations, OK Policy is often that lonely voice offering a different perspective, whether it’s making the case for expanding health coverage, arguing for a fairer tax system, or opposing the expansion of predatory consumer loans. But if you believe there’s only one side to every debate, then you should most definitely NOT donate to OK Policy.

3. You don’t need to know how the state budget works

OK Policy works to explain the budget process, show where state revenues come from and how they are spent, and track budget trends over time, guided by the belief that an informed citizenry is vital to a healthy, functioning democracy. With a shrinking Capitol press corps, many people count on OK Policy to shine a light on what’s happening behind the curtains. But if you prefer to remain in the dark, then making a tax-deductible contribution to OK Policy is most certainly a bad idea

4. 49th is quite OK

In Oklahoma, one in six of us, and more than one in five children, live in households that earn too little to stay above the poverty line. On a whole range of health and social indicators, Oklahoma ranks among the states with the worst outcomes. One of OK Policy's core convictions is that we need purposeful strategies aimed at expanding opportunities for all Oklahomans. We put forward thoughtful, practical policy proposals that will lead to a more prosperous, healthier state. But if you think we just need to work harder to outdo Mississippi in the race to the bottom, donating to OK Policy is probably not a good idea.

5. There’s no more work to do

Last year the Legislature approved new revenues for teacher pay increases and a few other priorities. It was an important first step in addressing some of the damage caused by years of stagnant funding and shrinking services. But so long as we remain last in our region in education funding, are among the lowest in the nation for mental health funding, and have nearly the highest rate of people without health insurance, OK Policy will make the case that we must continue to improve funding for public services that are the bedrock of healthy communities, thriving families, and a strong economy. If, however, you think there’s no more work to do, do not donate to OK Policy.

Kidding aside, we sincerely hope you will make a tax-deductible one-time or recurring year-end donation to OK Policy to help ensure that our work continues to have an impact in 2019. We greatly appreciate your support, and we wish you all the best during this holiday season.

The post Five reasons NOT to donate to OK Policy appeared first on Oklahoma Policy Institute.

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[The Weekly Wonk] Inequalities in arts education; promising local justice reform; OK's broken parole system; & more...

View this email in your browser. What’s up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know. The Weekly Wonk depends on supporters like you This is the last Weekly Wonk of the year since we'll be off next week for the holidays. Each week this year, we've send you in-depth analysis and information to understand the big issues affecting Oklahoma. As an independent non-profit, we couldn't do this work without the contributions of readers like you. Can you donate before the end of the year to power this work in 2019? Every contribution helps! This Week from OK Policy This week, Education Policy Analyst Rebecca Fine showed us how shrinking budgets have deepened inequalities in arts education, especially for schools in low-income and rural areas. Open Justice Oklahoma Director Ryan Gentzler demonstrated the promise of local justice reform by spotlighting the work of the Oklahoma City Police Department to arrest fewer people for minor offenses like having unpaid court costs and marijuana possession. Criminal Justice Policy Analyst Damion Shade presented an evidence-based solution to Oklahoma's broken parole system that focuses on equipping individuals with the resources they need to succeed in their communities. In his weekly Journal Record column, Executive Director David Blatt stressed that with solid revenue growth in the forecast, lawmakers should prioritize adding more teachers and support staff, while also ensuring that teacher pay doesn’t again fall behind. Steve Lewis's Capitol Update noted that the legislative leadership for next session is coming into focus with the appointment of House and Senate leadership.