Don’t flatten this curve

Put simply, Oklahoma government is far from lean. Additional tax increases will only add to the economic havoc and stunt future growth. Officials at the Oklahoma Tax Commission do not expect Oklahoma to return to pre-COVID levels of employment until the fourth quarter of 2022. Tax increases could push that date out even further.


Much effort has been put into “flattening the curve” of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations. Success in achieving that goal is welcome. What Oklahoma should not do is “flatten the curve”

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from Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Don’t flatten this curve

The Myth that Americans Were Poorly Educated before Mass Government Schooling | Lawrence W. Reed

Longtime OCPA friend Larry Reed reminds us that early America had widespread literacy and a vibrant culture of learning.


When I think of the many ways that government deceives us into its embrace, one in particular really stands out: It seeks to convince us how helpless we would be without it. It tells us we can’t do this, we can’t do that, that government possesses magical powers beyond those of mere mortals and ...

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from Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs The Myth that Americans Were Poorly Educated before Mass Government Schooling | Lawrence W. Reed

Timeline Photos

“State aid” from federal taxpayers is coming to address COVID-19 and help assist in innovation and other ideas to help states recover. These funds should be used to offset state revenue shortfalls, finance some strategic projects, and finance pro-growth reforms.



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from Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Timeline Photos

The Trillion Dollar Problem: Pandemic Puts State Pension Plans At Even Greater Risk

In 2018, Oklahoma’s state-sponsored teacher pension plans were only 73% funded and faced unfunded liabilities of more than $6.1 billion. And that was before the COVID-19 recession hit.


The current economic downturn will have rippling effects on the health of pension funds for public school teachers and other public employees.

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from Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs The Trillion Dollar Problem: Pandemic Puts State Pension Plans At Even Greater Risk

‘Journalism’ professors demand media censor Trump; show why public doesn’t trust journalists

Longtime journalist Mark Tapscott, a National Freedom of Information Act Hall of Fame inductee, is angered and saddened to see his profession being destroyed by those who ought to be protectors of its credibility.


Barely more than one in 10 Americans surveyed by the Gallup Poll have “a great deal of trust” in the news media, while 28 percent profess “a fair amount” of trust, for a total approval score of 41 percent. That compares with President Donald Trump’s 50 percent approval rating, according to...

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from Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs ‘Journalism’ professors demand media censor Trump; show why public doesn’t trust journalists

National poll shows vote-by-mail concern

Even as activists in Oklahoma seek to remove a longstanding election-security safeguard for absentee voting, a new national poll shows many voters are concerned that an increase in voting by mail could lead to increased election fraud.


The Just the News Daily Poll with Scott Rasmussen shows 62 percent of voters believe having everyone vote by mail is likely to increase voter fraud, while 29 percent disagree. The poll showed that 39 percent of respondents believe an increase in fraud is “very likely” compared to 15 percent who ...

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from Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs National poll shows vote-by-mail concern

Free Market Friday: Lives and livelihoods require lawmakers focus on economy

To fully recover from COVID-19 shutdowns, policymakers must pursue job growth. Legislators should make permanent the waiver of regulations lifted to address COVID-19. The state functioned without those waivers and lives and livelihoods were saved.


To fully recover from COVID-19 shutdowns, policymakers must pursue job growth.

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from Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Free Market Friday: Lives and livelihoods require lawmakers focus on economy