| Policy Matters: Oklahoma voters deserve choices at the polls Pop quiz: Do you feel your values are reflected in the votes of your state and local lawmakers? If the answer is yes, then the status quo is working just fine for you. But if the answer is no — if you feel like the decisions being made at the Capitol or the courthouse don't quite line up with your hopes for Oklahoma — then the next few weeks could matter more than you think. [Shiloh Kantz / The Journal Record] |
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Regressive Tax A regressive tax is a type of tax that takes a larger percentage of income from low-income individuals or households than from high-income individuals or households. In other words, as income decreases, the proportion of income paid in taxes increases. This is in contrast to a progressive tax, where the tax rate increases as income increases. Regressive taxes tend to have a disproportionate impact on lower-income individuals because they impose a higher burden on their limited financial resources. Examples of regressive taxes include sales taxes and flat taxes, where everyone pays the same percentage of their income regardless of their income level. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy in 2024 ranked Oklahoma's tax system as the nation's 16th most regressive as part of the 7th edition of its Who Pays? report. Oklahoma's high state and local sales tax rates – sixth highest in the nation at an average of 9.05 percent – is the main contributor to the overall regressivity of the state's tax system. Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. |
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"It does not make Oklahoma a 'Top 10' state. It does not make this a better place. This is a mean, ugly thing that we're doing today." —Sen. Michael Brooks (Oklahoma City), arguing against Senate Bill 1633, which would codify a federal court ruling that ended in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants while the ruling faces a legal challenge. Brooks called the bill a "back-breaker" for students who were brought to the U.S. as children and went to school in Oklahoma who would no longer qualify for in-state tuition after high school. [The Oklahoman] |
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Opinion: Tax cuts easy to promise, but what replaces lost revenue? Campaign seasons are full of promises about cutting taxes. Those promises can sound simple on the campaign trail. Governing, however, is rarely simple. There is an important difference between how the federal government manages money and how states like Oklahoma must operate. The federal government has tools that states simply do not have. Washington can borrow money, run deficits and even print money when necessary. States operate under a very different system. Oklahoma, like most states, must balance its budget. In simple terms, we have to live within our means. [Former State Rep. Mark McBride / The Oklahoman] |
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$571 million - The total authorized budget for the state's Fiscal Year 2027 (which starts on July 1, 2026) is about $571 million less — about 4.5% — than its legislative expenditure authority from June 2025. This means that lawmakers this session have fewer dollars to spend to address the state's needs through its public budget. [OK Policy] 80% - The increase in the number of students in pre-K through 12th grade experiencing homelessness over the past 17 years, reaching about 1.2 million nationwide. These students face major barriers to learning, including chronic absenteeism rates more than twice those of all students and significantly lower high school graduation rates compared with stably housed peers from low-income families. [National Center for Homeless Education] 1.3% - The share of students in higher education in Oklahoma who are undocumented. These students already face significant financial and legal barriers to accessing college, and efforts to eliminate in-state tuition eligibility would make completing a degree even more difficult. [Higher Ed Immigration Portal] $5.7 billion - The amount Oklahoma property taxes generated for local governments last year. This funding is a cornerstone of local budgets, supporting schools, public safety, infrastructure, and other essential community services. [OK Policy] 1.6 million - The Trump administration has revoked legal status for immigrants who entered the country through legal pathways — affecting at least 1.6 million people — by canceling programs and protections like CBP One, Temporary Protected Status, humanitarian parole and student visas. [NPR] |
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Sound State Revenue Choices Essential to Counteract Harmful Policies and Build Forward: State and local policymakers nationwide are facing a one-two punch entering 2026. For one, last summer's harmful Republican megabill paired enormous tax breaks for wealthy households and corporations with historically deep cuts that will take away people's vital health care and food assistance, all while foisting considerable new costs and responsibilities onto states and localities. The resulting damage to people and communities is expected to be significant. And it comes at a time when many states are also facing intensifying budget pressures from the second threat: their own recent policy choices, like widespread income tax cuts, costly private school voucher programs, and a growing trend of property tax cuts and caps. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] More Affordable and Available Housing Would Mean Fewer Children and Young People Experiencing Homelessness: Increasing the supply of truly affordable housing leads to fewer children and young people experiencing homelessness, especially in communities where low-income families can actually find units that fit their budgets. Counties with more affordable homes see far fewer students forced to double-up, move frequently, or sleep in unstable places. Expanding and preserving affordable housing — through stronger tenant protections, zoning reforms, and investments in low-cost housing options — helps keep kids housed and connected to school. Stable housing is one of the strongest foundations for children's health, learning, and long-term stability. [Urban Institute] Basic Facts About In-State Tuition for Undocumented Immigrant Students: Undocumented students often face major barriers when trying to attend college in the United States. Many states charge them out-of-state tuition, which can be several times higher than in-state rates, and they are not eligible for federal financial aid, making college financially out of reach for many families. Some states have adopted "tuition equity" policies that allow certain undocumented students who grew up in the state to pay in-state tuition, helping reduce these barriers and improve access to higher education. Even with these policies, many students still struggle to afford college and often must work long hours or pause their studies because of financial constraints. [National Immigration Law Center] States Can Make Property Taxes Fairer Without Shortchanging Local Services: States can reform property taxes to be more equitable without draining resources from essential services by adopting policies like circuit breakers, more progressive assessments, and targeted relief measures. These tools help protect low- and moderate-income homeowners or renters from excessive tax burdens while preserving local government capacity to fund schools, infrastructure, and public services. Such an approach balances fairness with fiscal stability. [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] How ICE's Budget Boom Is Changing Immigration Detention: To justify this massive infrastructure for immigration enforcement, the Trump administration has shifted away from historical approaches to immigration detention by putting more immigrants behind bars and rapidly expanding detention capacity through private contracts and investments in its own infrastructure. At the same time, it is finding new ways to evade oversight, leading to greater risks to the health and safety of the people in the government's custody. [Brennan Center on Justice] |
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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. |
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