Clock Ticking On Tax Cedits
Time waning for Okla. lawmakers to tackle credits
By SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press | May 18, 2013
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Despite calls by several Oklahoma legislators to address hundreds of millions of dollars in state tax credits and exemptions for businesses and industries, little has been done as another session approaches its end.
And at the same time, other legislators are trying to write even more tax giveaways into state law for things like tickets and hospitality suites to sporting events and the sale of helicopters.
“Once again a bunch of very questionable tax credits are emerging from the cracks in the walls of our crumbling state Capitol,” said Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, a longtime critic of tax credits. “There are stealth efforts underway to give away hundreds of millions of dollars at the end of a session when we told our state troopers and prison guards we had no money to pay them a decent salary.”
Dank sponsored a bill this session to ensure that hundreds of existing tax credits undergo more rigorous scrutiny, including pre-approval, expiration dates, fiscal limits and a requirement they actually create jobs. The bill easily cleared the House but was derailed in a Senate committee.