The Oklahoma Policy Institute (OK Policy) is a nonpartisan

think tank A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmenta ...

located in

Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with ...

Founding and Mission

OK Policy was founded in 2008 by David Blatt, Vincent LoVoi, and Steven Dow. It grew out of the public policy department of the

Community Action Project of Tulsa County A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, tow ...

, where Blatt had been director of public policy. Blatt began his tenure at OK Policy as director of policy. In 2010, Blatt replaced Matt Guillory as executive director, and the organization's main office was moved from

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, and ...

, to

Tulsa Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with ...

. Through 2010, Blatt was the organization's only full-time employee. In 2011, two additional full-time staff members were hired. In 2012, Oklahoma Policy Institute hired an Outreach Coordinator. In 2019, Ahniwake Rose became the executive director. According to its website, OK Policy "advances equitable and fiscally responsible policies that expand opportunity for all Oklahomans through non-partisan research, analysis, and advocacy." and "our core commitments are to the adequate, fair, and fiscally responsible funding of public services, and to an economy that provides shared prosperity through increased economic opportunity and financial security for all. Our main issue areas are: state budget and tax issues; programs serving low- and moderate-income Oklahomans; and policies promoting financial security and prosperity."

Collaborations and Affiliations

Oklahoma Policy Institute is affiliated with two networks of state policy research organizations. The first is the State Priorities Partnership (SPP), a collaboration coordinated by the

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a progressive American think tank that analyzes the impact of federal and state government budget policies. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Center's stated mission is to "conduct resear ...

. The second is the Economic Analysis Research Network (EARN), coordinated by the

Economic Policy Institute The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit American, left-leaning think tank based in Washington, D.C., that carries out economic research and analyzes the economic impact of policies and proposals. Affiliated with the labor mov ...

Involvement in Income Tax Debate, 2012

In 2012, members of the

Oklahoma Republican Party The Oklahoma Republican Party is the Oklahoma state affiliate of the Republican Party (GOP). Along with the Oklahoma Democratic Party, it is one of the two major parties in the state. It is currently the dominant party in the state, controlling ...

in the

Oklahoma Legislature The Legislature of the State of Oklahoma is the state legislative branch of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma House of Representatives and Oklahoma Senate are the two houses that make up the bicameral state legislature. There are 101 ...

began advocating a decrease in, or abolition of, the

income tax An income tax is a tax imposed on individuals or entities (taxpayers) in respect of the income or profits earned by them (commonly called taxable income). Income tax generally is computed as the product of a tax rate times the taxable income. Tax ...

. OK Policy helped form a coalition of stakeholders that would be impacted by income tax cuts. Stakeholders included the Oklahoma Education Association, The Oklahoma State School Boards Association, and The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. This group was called Together Oklahoma. In April 2012, OK Policy hosted an Economist Forum in Oklahoma City. Speakers at the forum included economists and state officials. OK Policy advocated against the income tax cut, while

Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) is a conservative, state-based think tank in Oklahoma, US. Founding, mission, and leadership Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) was founded in 1993 as a public policy research organization focu ...

advocated for the cut.

Position on State Question 744, 2010

Oklahoma State Question 744 was a

Ballot Measure A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...

that proposed to amend the Oklahoma Constitution to require the

Legislature A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make law Law is a set of rules that are created and are enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its p ...

to fund public education at or above the per-pupil average of neighboring states. Oklahoma Policy Institute opposed the measure after the organization released a report which found that the initiative would cost the state $1.7 billion. Oklahoma Policy Institute further stated that the cost of the measure would worsen existing budget shortfalls. State Question 744 was defeated in the general election.

References

Think tanks based in the United States 2008 establishments in Oklahoma {{Oklahoma-stub