Monday, February 19, 2018

STEP UP OKLAHOMA FAILS!

Weekly Opinion Editorial
OKLAHOMA’S BUDGET WOES CONTINUE!
by Steve Fair

     Oklahoma’s budget woes continue and in the last week, a number of events occurred.  On Monday February 12th, the Oklahoma House voted on the Step Up Oklahoma proposal.  A $581 million dollar package of proposed tax hikes, if passed, it would have been the biggest tax increase in Oklahoma history.  Passage required a 75% margin of victory, but Step Up fell 13 votes short and was defeated 63-35.  53 of the 72 Republicans in the State House voted for the bill and 10 of the 28 Democrats. 
     Before the vote, The Oklahoman reported that Sooner Poll had found 69% of likely voters supported the Step Up plan, which includes a $5,000 annual pay raise for teachers.  Step Up Oklahoma commissioned the poll.  Bear in mind those polled were read the following statement before being polled: Keep in mind that our state budget is still $100 million short and teachers have not been given an increase in pay since 2008 and the state is losing teachers to other states because teacher pay is the lowest in the region. This type of polling is known as ‘push polling,’ and results in skewed responses.  Honest polling would likely not result in approval for the largest tax increase in Oklahoma history.
     After the vote a Republican lawmaker called fellow legislators that voted against the increases, ‘the swamp,’ and called for them to draw primary opponents.   There was a time when Republicans fought against tax hikes, stood for limited government and refrained from attacking fellow Republicans, but that day has ended.  Name calling of fellow legislators- no matter what political Party- is inappropriate, unprofessional, and counterproductive.   The offending legislator should publicly apologize.
     On Friday, the 28 House Democrats held a press conference announcing as a caucus they support State Auditor Gary Jones’ plan to increase gross production tax to 5%, add 75 cents tax to cigarettes and increase tax on gas by 3 cents and on diesel by 6 cents.  Jones, who is running for the GOP nomination for governor,  was able to do something Republican legislative leaders and the governor haven’t been able to do- get the  Democrats to support a plan that may give them past the 75% threshold required by SQ #640.  It remains to be seen if Jones’ proposal makes it to the House floor.         Also on Friday, ten Republican House members and former U.S. Senator Tom Coburn issued a press release saying they support performance audits on every state agency.  They claim state government has a great deal of ‘bloat and mission creep.’   They also contend the recent increase in the price of oil has resulted in a stronger than expected revenue stream into state government and the proposed tax increases are unnecessary at this time.
    Two points: First, a state can’t tax itself to prosperity.  Fostering a business friendly environment that promotes growth for existing businesses and relocation for new ones will lead to prosperity and take state government with it.  Second, if these tax increases are supported by 2/3 of Oklahomans, then send them to a vote of the people.  A simple majority is all that is required to raise taxes via state question
 

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