Inflation Eases: Job Creation Soars

By David Arnett

Today’s Consumer Price Index showed inflation “eased more than expected” in February as Americans finally see some welcome relief following years of unending Bidenflation — with core inflation at its lowest level in nearly four years and mortgage rates dropping to their lowest levels since December.

In a release today, Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary said, “Today’s CPI report shows inflation is declining and the economy is moving in the right direction under President Trump. Core consumer prices, which is the best measure of inflation, dropped to its lowest level in FOUR years. This inflation report, much like last week’s jobs report, is far better than the media predicted and the so-called ‘experts’ expected. When will they learn to stop doubting President Trump? As he successfully did in his first term, President Trump is driving down costs through massive deregulation and energy dominance. The entire Trump Administration will continue to focus on fixing the economic and inflation nightmare created by the Biden-Harris Administration to unlock the Golden Age of America.”  

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Bills Advance for OK Military Base Support

By David Arnett

The House passed legislation off the floor today that would allow for additional state investments in infrastructure tied to Oklahoma’s five military bases. None of those are located in Northeastern OK yet they provide over 133,800 well paying jobs (FY 2010) adding $9.6 billion to our state’s GDP which was more than 7% of the state’s entire economy when studied years ago.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert authored House Bill 2516 and House Bill 2518, which create revolving funds at the state Treasury for use by the Oklahoma Military Department. The Base Infrastructure Needs and Development (BIND) fund will have a technology and a schools component that will allow for additional support to the state’s military bases in the hopes of preventing any future base closures and expanding operations when possible according to a release today.

“Oklahoma has a long history across multiple branches of the military and we want to send a loud signal that the state supports our bases,” said Hilbert, R-Bristow. “These funds will allow funds to accrue over time so we are able to take advantage of potential expansion opportunities as they become available and fight against any potential closures in the future.”

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Tulsan Supports Navy Helicopter Squadron

By Lt. j.g. Garrison Wendlberger, Navy Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO – Petty Officer 2nd Class Chase Smith, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike (HSM) 71. Smith graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 2010.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy Smith found in Tulsa.

“Growing up in Oklahoma I went to a unified high school,” Smith said. “By growing up in a unified community I was able to effectively communicate and empathize with the unified community we have in the Navy.”

Petty Officer 2nd Class Chase Smith, Photo: Seaman Joseph Sitter
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Medicaid Expansion Harms Continue

By Jonathan Small

A key plank of Obamacare (the federal “Affordable Care Act”) allowed states to expand Medicaid programs to include able-bodied adults and not just the medically needy.

When expansion was narrowly approved by a public vote in Oklahoma in 2020, everyone knew it would require the diversion of up to $300 million annually in state tax dollars. But advocates called that a bargain since federal tax dollars would cover 90 percent of costs.

Obviously, it meant little to the average citizen if they pay for expansion with taxes paid to the state or taxes paid to the federal government, but that’s the kind of argument that too often passes for logic in politics.

But now the folly of buying that argument is becoming apparent.

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OK is the Most Productive State

By David Arnett

In the wake of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) scrutinizing public sector efficiency, the team at Dofollow, a digital strategies organization, has put the same microscope on corporate America. By analyzing the current Fortune 500, they identified which companies are most and least productive in generating profit per employee.

Then the analysis was extended to examine the productivity of the states where these companies are headquartered, revealing broader regional trends. Oklahoma (with 6 companies within the Fortune 500) came out on top with a massive $1.2 million profit per employee.

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