OK House Could See First Tax Showdown Wednesday
House Democrats grate on Republican majority as big revenue bill comes to the floor
By Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World
OKLAHOMA CITY — Tsk, tsk, said Gov. Mary Fallin.
Democrats aren’t voting for Republican tax bills, she said late Monday.
“Us?” hooted several House Democrats via Twitter. “What about your own party?”
And on that tranquil note, the House turns Wednesday to the first big revenue bill of the year.
House Bill 2365, by Rep. Leslie Osborn, R-Mustang, would raise an estimated $390 million, most of it by raising the cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack and the fuel tax by 6 cents per gallon. The bill would also eliminate $50 million in oil and gas industry tax preferences, although those wouldn’t show up on the balance sheet until fiscal year 2019.