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| Oklahoma Policy Institute | |
|---|---|
| Name | Oklahoma Policy Institute |
| Type | Nonprofit think tank |
| Headquarters | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Key people | David Blatt; Angela Kelley |
| Focus | Public policy analysis |
Oklahoma Policy Institute is a progressive think tank based in Oklahoma City, founded to influence public debate on state-level policy issues. The organization produces analysis, commentary, and data tools aimed at informing debates in the Oklahoma Legislature, among governors of Oklahoma, and within civic institutions such as the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the Oklahoma State Department of Education, and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Its work appears in media outlets like the Tulsa World, The Oklahoman, and national outlets including The New York Times and The Washington Post.
The group was established in 2008 during debates over state budget shortfalls, engaging with events like the aftermath of the 2008 United States presidential election and policy shifts following the Great Recession (2007–2009). Early leaders worked on analyses related to actions by the Oklahoma Legislature and budget proposals from governors such as Brad Henry and Mary Fallin, and responded to federal developments including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and funding decisions by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Over time the organization expanded its staff and footprint, interacting with institutions like the Oklahoma Policy Institute's audiences in Norman, Oklahoma and Tulsa, Oklahoma while participating in coalitions that included groups active around the 2010 United States midterm elections and later state ballot issues.
The institute’s stated aim centers on improving public policy through evidence-based analysis, focusing on tax, budget, and safety net programs but also addressing issues that affect residents served by entities such as the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Its objectives emphasize transparency in decisions by the Oklahoma State Treasurer and accountability in actions by the Oklahoma Legislature, with an eye to impacts on populations represented by organizations like the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation.
The organization issues reports, policy memos, and data briefings that examine state fiscal policy, access to services administered by the Social Security Administration, and workforce trends reported by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Publications have analyzed tax proposals advanced in sessions of the Oklahoma Legislature, budget recommendations from governors including Kevin Stitt, and federal-state interactions tied to programs overseen by the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Agriculture. Tools and analyses have been cited by reporters at the Associated Press, researchers at the Brookings Institution, and academics at universities such as the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.
The institute works across tax policy, state fiscal health, health policy, and safety net program design, engaging with legislation filed in the Oklahoma Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives. It has produced analyses regarding Medicaid expansion debates tied to the Affordable Care Act, education funding issues related to the Oklahoma State School Boards Association, and workforce development programs coordinated with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Initiatives have included scorecards and explainer series aimed at informing voters, journalists at outlets such as NPR, and members of civic organizations like the League of Women Voters of Oklahoma.
While positioned as a research organization, the institute has influenced public debates and legislative outcomes by providing testimony before committees of the Oklahoma Legislature and briefings for staff of the Governor of Oklahoma. Its work has been referenced during campaigns involving statewide officials such as candidates for Governor of Oklahoma and discussions around ballot measures similar to those seen in other states like Colorado and California. The institute’s analyses have shaped media coverage in publications like The Hill and prompted responses from state agencies including the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and advocacy groups such as the Oklahoma Policy Institute's allied partners in statewide coalitions.
Funding streams include grants and donations from foundations and philanthropic entities active in public policy, comparable to supporters of organizations like the Southern Policy Law Center or national funders that have supported research at the Urban Institute and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Governance is overseen by a board of directors drawn from civic leaders, nonprofit executives, and policy professionals with experience at institutions such as the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs and regional universities. Leadership transitions have included executive changes that mirror trends at state policy organizations across the United States.
The institute partners with state and national organizations, collaborating with entities such as the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, national networks like the State Priorities Partnership, and research groups at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. It engages journalists from outlets including The New Yorker, academics at institutions like Harvard Kennedy School and Stanford University, and advocacy groups representing healthcare, labor, and civic interests such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Service Employees International Union. Through these relationships, it contributes to multi-state efforts on fiscal policy, tax reform, and social services reform reflected in policy debates from Texas to New Mexico.
Category:Think tanks based in the United States Category:Organizations based in Oklahoma