Article written by A Concerned Oklahoman
Editor’s Note: Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat also delayed Governor Stitt’s attempts to eliminate the grocery tax during the summer of 2022.
Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat led the Senate to ‘sine die’ their half of the special session because Senator Treat claims that Governor Kevin Stitt “failed to offer solid proof that the state could afford tax cuts.”
The 72-hour Special Session was called on Tuesday, October 3 to address three key tax issues:
- Tax relief to put Oklahoma on track to a zero income tax.
- A measure to increase budget transparency.
- A trigger law effective if a court uses a race, class or heritage exemption.
Governor Stitt held a “Defending the Dollar” press conference on Tuesday morning along with the opening of the Special Session. The conference stressed fiscal responsibility and a reduction in government growth. At the press conference, Stitt said, “It’s time to slow the growth of government and give that back to the taxpayers.”
House Speaker McCall also spoke, and said, “I myself, and the majority party, the Republicans, are for cutting taxes, largely due, we think it’s good policy. We have advanced bills for the last three sessions, and with this special session it will be a fourth session, to give money back to the people of the state of Oklahoma.”
A spokesperson for Stitt said: “The Governor has been clear. He wants a quarter point tax cut and to slow the growth of government. Senate leadership has been denying Oklahomans their right to keep their hard-earned money while continuing to increase the size of government every year.”
The Senate convened; members of the Senate Appropriations Committee planned a budget meeting at 10:00 am. Governor Stitt held a 9:30 new conference with Speaker McCall, Treasurer Todd Russ and Grover Norquist. The Governor used the conference to call for a 25% tax cut in the state income tax. Handouts were distributed itemizing $5.4 billion in savings, recurring expenditure of $9.6 billion with a surplus of $1.2 billion.
Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat said he told his leadership team if the Governor appeared at the appropriations committee meeting, the Senate would have to stay around and hear what he had to say. Treat said that he didn’t confirm that the Governor wasn’t coming to the meeting until the Governor was asked at the news conference. He said Stitt has not requested a meeting with the Senate’s GOP caucus.
“We don’t believe the governor’s numbers are accurate. He counts in some moneys that we would not count in there, but he at least owes it to us to come and explain how he arrived at those numbers,” the Senator also said.
The Oklahoma State Senate has a Republican supermajority, 40-8. Yet, given the opportunity to reduce taxes, something being done in many Republican states across the country, they instead ended the Special Session before completing anything.
The OKGOP Platform states, “We support eliminating taxation on income and property.” Our so-called “Republican” Senate refuses to address these issues, and enforce our platform, instead pointing to their desire to continue state spending at current levels.
By 11:45, the House of Representatives had adjourned for the day, then at 2:27 pm, the Senate voted to adjourn sine die, effectively putting an end to the Special Session. The House was in session briefly on Wednesday, October 4, then adjourned to the call of the chair, on the second day of the Legislative Special Session.
So much for transparency in Oklahoma, so much for any tax relief in 2023. When asked for updates, the Governor’s office deferred to the Senate office. The Senate had no further updates until February 1. Senate Pro Tem Treat’s office was not available for comment.
The spurned taxpayers, especially the Republican voters, are left to wonder whom to blame, who’s worth their vote and what to do.