A taxing proposal
There’s been a whole lot of talk about our $868 million budget hole this year and ways the lawmakers could fill the gap.
One idea driving a lot of the conversation: raising taxes.
Now I might be old fashioned, but I believe it’s my job as a lawmaker to cut government, not to hike taxes. So when people float proposals to increase the motor fuel tax or expand taxes to include services like child care, legal fees and utility services, my antenna goes up. There’s got to be a better way.
Fortunately, I’m not the only one who believes this. Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb has stepped out in opposition to the new tax proposal, and I stand with him 110 percent.
Before we consider taxing our taxidermy or lawn services, shouldn’t we look at our own spending? Shouldn’t we do everything we can to avoid allowing the government to take even more of our hard-earned money out of our pockets? If the answer to that question isn’t “yes,” then I don’t know what I’m doing up here at the Capitol.
Look at agencies like the Department of Public Safety, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. These agencies could easily be consolidated into a single department, and it would result in a more efficient system, ease the flow of information between departments and ultimately save the taxpayers money.