Just the Issues ranks what people actually care about based on net votes. Read the full mission.
Members of Congress should be banned from trading individual stocks
Despite bipartisan support and multiple bills introduced, Congress has not banned its own members from trading individual stocks. The 2012 STOCK Act's disclosure rules carry negligible penalties, and members continue trading on non-public information received through committee work.
We need more resources to combat the fentanyl crisis
Oklahoma fentanyl deaths rose from fewer than 60 in 2019 to 748 in 2023. State prisons recorded 530 non-fatal overdoses and 30 custody deaths. Rural hospital closures have left communities without access to life-saving treatment.
The cost of living in America has become unmanageable for too many families
According to the Urban Institute, 52 percent of Americans report difficulty affording basic household expenses. Rising costs of housing, food, healthcare, and childcare continue to outpace wage growth, squeezing working families across income levels.
AI-generated political ads should be labeled as synthetic
AI-generated political advertisements can currently run in most states with no label telling voters the content is synthetic. As AI-generated media becomes more sophisticated, voters face increasing difficulty distinguishing authentic from fabricated political content.
The government should prepare workers for job displacement caused by AI
Artificial intelligence is increasingly capable of automating white-collar tasks including writing, coding, legal analysis, and customer service. Multiple economic studies project significant workforce disruption in the coming decade, yet no comprehensive federal retraining or transition program exists.
The U.S. should reduce military spending on foreign conflicts
The U.S. defense budget exceeded $886 billion in FY2024, with significant portions allocated to overseas operations and foreign military aid. Debate continues over whether these funds should be redirected to domestic priorities such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education.
Homelessness policy should prioritize mental health and substance abuse treatment
The U.S. homeless population exceeded 650,000 in 2023, a 12% increase year over year. Research consistently links chronic homelessness to untreated mental illness and substance use disorders. Critics of housing-first approaches argue that without addressing underlying conditions, interventions fall short.
Tenants deserve more than 3 days notice before eviction
Oklahoma processes over 48,000 evictions per year. Tenants receive 3 days notice, and 70% of cases end in default judgment. Several reform bills are under consideration this legislative session. Fair housing procedures affect families across the state.
We should be able to see who funds political candidates before we vote
Oklahoma's campaign finance portal upgrade left only 12 of 3,000+ expected filings visible ahead of the April 2026 election. Citizens currently cannot look up who is funding local candidates. Accessible, timely campaign finance data is essential for informed voting.
Housing vouchers should not expire because recipients cannot find participating landlords
Nearly 8,000 Section 8 housing vouchers have expired since 2020 because recipients could not find participating landlords. Oklahoma has a 77,000-unit affordable housing deficit and waitlists are closed statewide.
Political donors should be required to disclose their identity
Political spending where the original donor is hidden reached $1.9 billion in the 2024 cycle, up from under $5 million in 2006. Legislation requiring disclosure of original funding sources has been introduced repeatedly but has never passed.
Former members of Congress should face longer bans before lobbying
25% of former House members and 29% of former senators register as lobbyists after leaving office. Current law only requires a one-year cooling-off period for House members before they can lobby their former colleagues.
Congressional maps should only be redrawn after each census
Multiple states have begun redrawing congressional maps outside the normal post-census cycle. Only 9 states use independent redistricting commissions, despite 77% of voters supporting reform in polling.
Public defenders should have manageable caseloads
Oklahoma Indigent Defense System lawyers carry 250+ cases simultaneously. Rural areas have become service deserts where arrest is the only pathway to mental health or substance abuse treatment. Expanding diversion programs could save an estimated $83M.
Court-ordered mental health treatment should be provided within the mandated timeframe
Oklahoma courts order mental health treatment but waitlists have surged 58%, with 218 people waiting a median 77 days vs. the court-mandated 45. The state faces $3.1M in contempt fines. Emergency funding of $30M has been requested.
Every state should require post-election audits of paper ballots
While 98% of jurisdictions now use paper-verifiable ballots, not all states require post-election audits to confirm results. Risk-limiting audits — the gold standard — involve hand-counting a sample of paper ballots, but many states have no such requirement.
Local election offices need federal cybersecurity support
Cuts to federal cybersecurity funding have forced local election offices to find alternatives for protecting their systems. Officials are unsure whether the FBI and CISA will continue classified threat briefings, leaving local offices to defend against foreign cyber threats with fewer resources.
Detainees have a right to basic health, safety, and legal access
Judges have identified systemic failures at the Cleveland County Detention Center, including 6 deaths since January 2024, a failed state health inspection, denied attorney access, and detainees going weeks without clean clothing.
County jails should be required to meet health and safety standards
In 2024, 51 of 65 Oklahoma county jails failed state standards — a 78% failure rate. Tulsa Municipal Jail has seen 7 deaths since 2023 despite staff warnings about inadequate medical care and overcrowding. Counties lack funding and staffing to meet basic health and safety requirements for inmates.
The federal government should actively investigate foreign election interference
The FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force was disbanded in 2025 and foreign agent enforcement was narrowed to traditional espionage only. Five states passed their own foreign campaign contribution laws to fill the federal gap.