Clergy urge Oklahoma lawmakers to keep tax credits for poor (Hastings Tribune)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Religious leaders from across Oklahoma are urging lawmakers not to get rid of tax credits that support hundreds of thousands of middle- and low-income residents.

A letter signed by more than 140 clergy members and delivered to Oklahoma legislators on Wednesday asks to protect Oklahoma’s earned income tax credit, sales tax relief credit and child care tax credit.

All three tax credits are aimed at low- to moderate-income Oklahomans. For example the sales tax relief credit is limited to families with income up to $50,000, and is claimed on more than 450,000 state tax returns each year.

Lawmakers also are eying dozens of costly tax subsidies offered to businesses and industries as they look to close a $1.3 billion hole in the state budget.

http://www.hastingstribune.com/clergy-urge-oklahoma-lawmakers-to-keep-tax-credits-for-poor/article_4cd45796-42a7-59f1-976e-8a65c57f0632.html