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2018 Oklahoma state questions: Links to the legislation

I'll be on 1170 KFAQ this morning (Monday, October 22, 2018) at 8 a.m. with Pat Campbell to discuss the state questions on Oklahoma's November 2018 general election ballot. Tune into 1170 on your AM dial, or listen live on the internet. (UPDATE: Here is a link to my discussion...

Posted by Michael Bates on October 22, 2018 12:34 AM

Vision2: Blake Ewing explains his opposition to Prop 1

Tulsa City Councilor Blake Ewing has a blog post out today explaining his opposition to Vision2 Tulsa County Proposition 1 in great detail, addressing the "deal closing fund" and the "airport part" in separate sections, and it's worth reading in full, but here are a few highlights (emphasis added): As...

Posted by Michael Bates on November 5, 2012 8:10 AM

Tulsa County ObamaVision plan unveiled

A clique of corporate welfare queens and pork barrel princes today announced a plan to bring Barack Obama's proven* economic development strategies to Tulsa County. The $747.9 million borrow, spend, and tax ObamaVision plan embraces five central principles of Obamanomics: (1) Use government spending to stimulate economic development, because government...

Posted by Michael Bates on August 9, 2012 11:40 PM

"Vision for Jobs" another cynical tax grab?

Just as they did in 2003, Tulsa "leaders" are preying on anxieties about job losses to justify siphoning more of your tax dollars through county government to favored businesses. Two possibilities are being discussed to raise $340 million: Either a county-wide sales tax increase of 0.4 percent or an extension...

Posted by Michael Bates on May 24, 2012 1:05 AM

State Chamber targets Mike Reynolds for opposing corporate welfare

The Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce has put State Rep. Mike Reynolds (R-OKC) on its "most wanted" list for his opposition to tax credits that seem to be more about rewarding the politically connected than helping Oklahoma's economy grow. The Chamber's website highlights two Reynolds quotes: That's what [the Quality...

Posted by Michael Bates on May 11, 2011 1:37 AM

Quality Events Incentive Act? Vote no on SB 1284

Thanks to Ron Denton for the heads-up. The State House Appropriations and Budget Committee will vote tomorrow, April 8, 2010, on SB 1284, the Oklahoma Quality Events Incentive Act. The Tulsa Metro Chamber wants people to send emails to the committee members urging passage. (To read the legislation, go here,...

Posted by Michael Bates on April 7, 2010 9:47 PM

Flunking the Yellow Pages Test

An edited version of this piece was published in the May 24, 2006, issue of Urban Tulsa Weekly. The archived version is no longer online. Posted on the web July 3, 2010. Flunking the Yellow Pages Test By Michael D. Bates When he was Mayor of Indianapolis, Stephen Goldsmith had...

Posted by Michael Bates on May 24, 2006 7:48 PM