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I have written several articles outlining the enormous impact on Oklahoma’s economy that could result from moving agricultural acreage currently committed to the stock bulk crops (such as wheat and corn) to high-value vegetable, melon, and potato crops. For many years agricultural experts have discussed this possibility of moving high-value crop production that currently favors state like California and Florida to those states that now produce the bulk crops like grain. The Midwest is an ideal location.

University of Oklahoma president David Boren is leading the charge for a 22 percent increase in the state sales tax rate. But of course such a tax hike would have many harmful effects.

Oklahomans who have been told repeatedly that Oklahoma’s schools are underfunded may be very surprised to learn that the schools in fact have “savings accounts” that are full of cash sitting idle.

We've all been told that Oklahoma's teachers are some of the lowest paid in the union. Recent news reports indicated that Oklahoma's average teacher salary - $44,128, according to estimates from the National Education Association - is the lowest in the region and 49th nationally. But it turns out that's not the whole story. Would you believe this data set excludes more than $300 million of taxpayer-funded payroll?

As policymakers prepare for the 2017 legislative session, it is likely that they will be looking for areas where cost savings can be found. I would suggest starting with the two largest items in the state budget.