Growing the minimal wage to match 4 surrounding states (and 29 nationwide) and bringing again the Earned Revenue Tax Credit score are two good concepts that will assist the state’s poorest employees, encourage normal prosperity within the state and make future state budgets extra sustainable. The answer to Oklahoma’s long-term price range image is to emphasise continued financial progress in an clever, equitable vogue.
Rising state income — even whether it is primarily based on a little bit of a bubble — is loads higher than shrinking income, a devastating state of affairs that we’ve confronted a number of instances lately with disastrous impression on all areas of state authorities, particularly public colleges.
Even when the income progress doesn’t mirror sustainable, structural enchancment within the state’s economic system, it occurred on the watch of Gov. Kevin Stitt, so we shouldn’t be shy about giving him as a lot credit score as is due. Stitt has been aggressive in pushing the reopening of the state economic system, and that in all probability has helped the improved price range state of affairs a bit within the brief time period.
On the similar time, Stitt has refused to do different issues — together with a statewide masks mandate — that will enable for a sooner restoration and sooner return to open society on a everlasting foundation. Most tragically, it additionally would have prevented pointless illness and dying.
What all this boils all the way down to is that this: Oklahoma’s price range prospects might have been worse, and have been within the current previous, however they’re removed from rosy, and the present course of state coverage isn’t well-designed to make the nice instances proceed.
