OKPOLICY.ORG
For Immediate Release
Oklahoma Policy Institute released the following statement in response to Governor Fallin’s State of the State address and budget proposal:
Governor Fallin has rightfully recognized that Oklahoma has a revenue problem and that we must find new recurring revenues to make it through this budget crisis. Her proposals to modernize the sales tax, eliminate the unnecessary double deduction for state income taxes, and create savings with smarter criminal sentencing policies are a good starting point. Oklahoma should adopt these ideas along with other common sense revenue options, such as canceling an income tax cut that was never meant to happen in these conditions, enforcing combined corporate reporting to prevent multi-state corporations from shifting their Oklahoma profits to out-of-state tax shelters, and accepting federal dollars to expand health coverage to working families.
If on the other hand we continue to ignore sensible revenue options and double down on budget cuts, we will do devastating damage to our economy and to critical public services. This crisis will be painful to Oklahoma families who need health care, education, and safe communities, but Oklahoma has the tools to ease this pain if our lawmakers have the political courage to use them.
I am 90 years old and eager to have my income taxes raised. We must fund our schools. I still think of the future as a Senior Citizen and beg for fair and sensible taxation. Please raise my income tax.
Thank you, Emily. May you continue to be an exemplary citizen for many more years to come!
I just knew she was speaking in code when the talk was “modernizing” the sales tax. Just say it, a continued assault on working people, while the top continues to get tax breaks.
If the state is serious about not becoming the next Kansas, if it’s not too late:
1. End all corporate welfare.
2. Accept Medicaid expansion.
I know there is no chance, but I can dream, can’t I?