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The Tulsa Beacon

 

Ray Carter

Center for Independent Journalism

Ray Carter is the director of OCPA’s Center for Independent Journalism.

Bills to repeal Oklahoma Income Tax Increase In Number

Tulsa Beacon

Another state lawmaker is urging his colleagues to repeal Oklahoma’s personal income tax, which is often referred to as the state’s penalty on work and investment. State Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, has filed two bills that would get rid of the personal income tax, either in one fell swoop or gradually over time. Senate Bill…

Sen. Education Committee Leaders Seek Longer School Year, Other Reforms

Tulsa Beacon

The leaders of the Senate Education Committee have unveiled a wide range of bills that would address problems in Oklahoma’s K-12 and college-education systems. The proposed agenda includes lengthening the school year in Oklahoma to meet national norms, moving school-board elections to boost public input, and eliminating “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) programs on college…

OKC conference will explore Christian Worldview

Tulsa Beacon

Many public debates in recent years have, at their root, been driven by more than differences of opinion, and have instead been grounded in the wildly divergent worldviews being contested. A Feb. 1 conference at Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond, conducted by Colorado-based Summit Ministries, will offer Oklahomans the chance to review the Christian worldview…

Court ruling bolsters Oklahoma anti-ESG law

Tulsa Beacon

A U.S. district court judge has ruled that “environmental, social, and governance” (ESG) investing violates the fiduciary duty of pension plan managers since it is not based solely on maximizing returns and pensioners’ retirement security. In a Jan. 10 order, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor concluded that “the facts compellingly demonstrated that Defendants breached their…

Oklahoma lawmaker seeks end of wind-power subsidy

Tulsa Beacon

A newly elected state senator says it is time to end taxpayer subsidization of wind farms. “Oklahoma taxpayers have already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies for wind farms across the state, and it’s beyond time to end this costly practice,” said state Sen. Jonathan Wingard, R-Ada. “While new wind projects no longer…

Survivor of Communism warns Oklahoma of Chinese Influence

Tulsa Beacon

In 2024 Lily Tang Williams gained national fame as the Republican nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District. She fell short in that race but is now using her platform to warn Americans of the perils of communism and against allowing the Chinese government to increase its leverage in…

Transparency sought for Oklahoma Universities’ Foreign Funds

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma colleges and universities would have to publicly report any foreign funding received and its purpose under legislation filed by state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom. Senate Bill 349, by Bergstrom, would require all state and accredited private institutions of higher education in Oklahoma to submit a quarterly report detailing any contracts, gifts, grants, endowments, awards, or…

Poll finds Oklahoma’s School-Choice model popular with parents nationwide

Tulsa Beacon

In 2023, Oklahoma Lawmakers Passed The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, Which Provides Refundable Tax Credits To Families To Help Cover The Cost Of Private School Or Homeschooling. The Program Proved Extremely Popular With Parents In Its First Year As The Demand For Tax Credits Quickly Exceeded The Supply. Now A New Poll Shows…

OKC mayor, conservative Republicans differ on California-style election scheme

Tulsa Beacon

When officials with Oklahoma United launched an initiative petition to effectively end primary elections in Oklahoma and instead adopt a California-style “jungle primary” system, they touted the support of Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. Under the proposed system, all candidates from all parties would compete on a single June ballot with all voters able to…

Bergstrom pursues Oklahoma personal income-tax repeal

Tulsa Beacon

Oklahoma’s personal income tax rate would be immediately reduced and then gradually eliminated under legislation filed by state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom. Senate Bill 1, by Bergstrom, would cut the state personal income tax from its current rate of 4.75 percent to 4.5 percent in the 2025 tax year. The bill provides for additional, automatic income-tax…