Fent Threatens Suit Over Production Tax
Oklahoma City attorney threatening lawsuit over gross production tax bill
by Rick Green
An Oklahoma City attorney who has successfully sued the state in the past is threatening another lawsuit if Gov. Mary Fallin signs into law a bill setting a revised tax rate for oil and natural gas wells.
Jerry Fent delivered a letter to the governor’s office Tuesday saying the bill fails to meet requirements in the Oklahoma Constitution for revenue measures. Specifically, he said House Bill 2562 violated requirements that revenue bills be approved by three-fourths of the membership of the House and Senate and that such bills should not be passed in the last five days of a session.
“Based upon your signing an oath to support, obey and defend the Oklahoma Constitution, I respectfully request you not approve HB 2562,” Fent said in the letter. “If you approve HB 2562, I will consider filing an action in the Oklahoma Supreme Court to stop this bill.”
The bill was passed Thursday, one day before the Legislature ended its session. It was approved 61-34 in the House and 30-14 in the Senate.