Here Come The Tax Increases
Owasso Taxpayer Alliance Admin
BREAKING: Legislature Rushes Massive Tax Package Vote Tonight!
3/26/18
The mentally ill will be hit with an additional $1 per pack tax on tobacco products. As we have detailed in another article, The mentally ill consume 44% of all tobacco products and have extreme difficulty becoming stable enough to handle the stress of withdrawal that their fragile nervous system must endure. Mental health advocates equate this to a tax on wheelchairs in the name of compassion for the disabled.
This legislature has largely turned their back on the mentally ill, forcing cops to incarcerate far more of them in jails around the state than are properly treated in state mental health hospitals. The state now has only 349 state-operated beds, but Just Tulsa jail alone, houses over 500 men who have sought treatment for severe mental illness.
Oklahoma has recently emerged from a 24 month recession and state tax collections are breaking records. Still the legislature's appetite for more spending is driving this session's leaders to confiscate more of Oklahoma citizens' household income.
At 7:08 pm of last night's (March 26, 2018) special session of the state House, the author, Rep Kevin Wallace told 2 separate colleagues on the house floor that Falls Creek Baptist Camp and any facility with 3 rooms or more would be assessed the $5 per room per night lodging tax.
Rep. Kevin Calvey confirmed that Indian Casinos will not be bound by this law, but religious ministries are.
Reference: Sooner Politics https://www.facebook.com/SoonerPolitics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 27, 2018
Senator Tom Coburn to headline announcement of OKLAHOMA TAXPAYERS UNITE!
STATE CAPITOL BUILDING PRESS ROOM
PRESS CONFERENCE 1 pm, Wednesday March 28, 2018
Fiscal hawk and Taxpayers’ friend, Senator Tom Coburn, will announce the formation of a new Taxpayers’ coalition to take the fight to the legislative tax hogs, oath breakers and Political Class.
Oklahoma Taxpayers are fed up with legislative leadership that seeks first to raise taxes and refuses to make the structural, transformational reforms that fiscal responsibility requires. With HB1010XX, passed under duress and rules suspension March 26, the majority of the House of Representatives has chosen the path of more taxation instead of reform.
Oklahoma Taxpayers Unite! is a coalition of Oklahoma Taxpayers -- civic leaders, concerned citizens, grassroots activists, and party leaders, working together, demanding constitutional, ethical, transparent, and fiscally responsible governance for the Oklahoma Taxpayers. Reminiscent of the group known as “Stop New Taxes” which almost repealed HB 1017 28 years ago with a referendum petition, and then Oklahoma Taxpayers’ Union, which successfully passed SQ 640, the new coalition reflects the disgust and anger with a Governor and legislature that has refused to lead, opting for new taxes instead.
Of the 79 House members who voted for new taxes, 11 of them previously signed a pledge for their entire term of office with Americans for Tax Reform, “to oppose [and vote against] any efforts to increase taxes.” Apparently, their word means nothing. Two of the oath-breakers are running for higher office in 2018. Seven members of the Senate signed the same pledge.
Oklahoma Taxpayers Unite! will offer its 7-point Taxpayers Platform for all incumbents and candidates to pledge to on their Word of Honor.
For further information, please contact Brooke McGowan at 704-526-9494 or Porter Davis at 405-343-0239.