October 2005 Volume 12 Number 10

Government Growth Outstrips, Hinders Economic Growth

October 01, 2005

The mid- to late-1990s represented a period of strong, sustained growth for the United States economy as a whole and for many state economies. Accompanying this economic expansion, however, was a parallel expansion in the size, scope, and cost of the federal government and most state governments. Many observers of national and state economic and fiscal trends warne... Read More >

Tax Eaters versus Tax Payers

October 01, 2005

Politics in America today is not only a contest between left and right. A new dynamic has slowly been emerging over the past forty years, a face-off between those who benefit from an expanding government and those who must pay for it - the tax eaters versus the tax payers. The vast expansion of the public sector is finally reaching a tipping point, giving tax eater... Read More >

In Defense of Price 'Gouging'

October 01, 2005

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina shocked the nation, but so did the response to that devastation. After Katrina, anger surged over the behavior of governmental relief agencies, local law enforcement, the underclass of New Orleans, the National Guard, and the profiteers capitalizing on human misery. Regardless of how we feel about the former groups, the as... Read More >

What Is 'Adequate' School Funding?

October 01, 2005

The state's largest school-employee labor union, the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA), is working on an "adequacy and equity" litigation strategy to force taxpayers to spend more on Oklahoma's public schools. About 40 years ago lawsuits began to be introduced arguing that there wasn't enough funding for the public schools. The first such decision, Serrano, in C... Read More >

To Replace or Not to Replace?

October 01, 2005

Oklahoma's death tax has generated for the state treasury an average of $78 million annually over the last dozen years. This is less than one percent of what the state collects and spends each year. House Speaker Todd Hiett wants to get rid of the tax once and for all. Governor Henry says he is willing to discuss the idea - if there's a way to replace the lost revenu... Read More >

Snapshots Tell Own Story

October 01, 2005

OCPA had a very busy summer. While many Oklahomans were enjoying some well-deserved vacation time, our headquarters was busier than ever - with more events, more guests, and more issues than ever before. The result of all these activities was major media coverage, frequent interviews, succinct editorials, and greater public awareness than ever before. OCPA is an ac... Read More >

Quote Unquote

October 01, 2005

?At least 35 of the 303 Tulsa Public School bus drivers have been arrested or charged with crimes ranging from arson to negligent homicide to driving under the influence, the Tulsa World newspaper reported.? USA Today, September 6, 2005 ?Now the Senate is looking for moderate judges, mainstream judges. What in the world is a moderate interpretation of a constitutional tex... Read More >

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