Small: The compounding effect of good policy

The compounding effect of good policy

By Jonathan Small

The combination of good government policies, over time, has a compounding effect that reaps growing benefit for a state. The same is true of bad government policies.

Oklahoma’s loss of major company headquarters in recent months is tied to the latter and shows why lawmakers must not retreat from undoing the harmful policy legacy of Oklahoma’s first 100 years.

When officials with Devon Energy and Coterra Energy announced the two companies are merging, they also announced the combined company will be headquartered in Houston, Texas, not Oklahoma City.

Shortly after, Expand Energy—formerly known as Chesapeake Energy—announced a similar headquarters relocation.

Bill to give counties 'marijuana impact tax' option passes first House committee

Eaves Bill on County Marijuana Impact Tax Moves Forward

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ryan Eaves, R-Atoka, passed a bill this week that would give counties the option to impose a local public service impact tax on retail marijuana sales.

House Bill 3314 would authorize counties to impose up to a 15% public service impact tax on retail marijuana sales within county limits. The bill does not automatically create a tax. If a county chooses to pursue one, it must first be approved by a majority of county voters at a special election. The bill also exempts marijuana grown on private property by individuals that is not sold.

Small: Congress should end tax loophole for foreign businesses

Congress should end tax loophole for foreign businesses

By Jonathan Small

The “double drawback” loophole is a technical policy within federal trade law that is not widely known, yet it has a surprising connection to Oklahoma. The repeal of this loophole was included in the version of the One Big, Beautiful Bill that passed the House, but is missing from the Senate version of the bill.

That needs to change.

Here’s how the loophole works.

Rep. Hays: 'A Call for Fairness in Municipal Public Policy'

A Call for Fairness in Municipal Public Policy

By State Representative Neil Hays (R, HD-13)

As communities across the country work to balance budgets, fund essential services, and attract the businesses that drive innovation and job creation, it’s time for local governments to rethink their approach to public policy. As State Representative for District 13, I encourage our elected leaders to adopt transparent, deliberate, and equitable decision-making processes when considering new taxes, fees, or regulations. We must resist hasty or regressive measures that undermine the very economies they seek to support.

OK Senate Appropriations Committee passes tax reform measures

An income tax credit during years of growth, rather than a full blown tax cut? I'm a bit skeptical of the idea (it's certainly a novel proposal that I've never heard of before).

Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Tax Reform Measures to Strengthen Oklahoma’s Economy

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 6th) – The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a series of tax reform measures aimed at simplifying Oklahoma’s tax code, providing relief to individuals and businesses and promoting economic growth. 

Senate Bills 304, 299, 291, and 60, authored by Senator Dave Rader, R- Tulsa, and Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, address income tax structure, corporate tax fairness and taxpayer relief mechanisms.

State Sen. Bergstrom files bill to gradually eliminate state income tax

Bergstrom Files Bill to Gradually Eliminate Oklahoma Income Tax

OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 20th) – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has filed Senate Bill 1, a tax reform proposal designed to reduce Oklahoma’s income tax rates in a responsible and measured way.

Under SB1, the state’s marginal income tax rate will be reduced by 0.25 percentage points across all income brackets. Future reductions are tied to revenue growth, with the Board of Equalization tasked with determining if total state revenue has increased by at least $400 million compared to the fiscal year before the most recent tax cut. Each time this benchmark is met, another 0.25 percent reduction will be triggered, continuing until the top marginal income tax rate is zero.

House passes three income tax cut bills by Speaker McCall

The State Senate's GOP leadership is adamantly opposed to cutting the income tax this year, but House Speaker McCall is just as determined to put the ball in their court, with the House sending the following income tax cut bills to the Senate this week:

Speaker McCall Tax Bills Pass House

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 13th) – Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, this week gained House passage of multiple bills he authored regarding Oklahoma's tax structure and policy. The bills were in addition to tax policy legislation passed by the House earlier this session.

"I made a promise to Oklahomans when the grocery tax passed earlier this session that the House was not done delivering tax relief to our citizens," McCall said. "This week, the House kept that promise. State savings are at record levels, our economic outlook as a state continues to rise and now is the time to allow Oklahomans to keep more of their hard-earned money. The House believes that principle, and that is reflected by the overwhelming number of votes these bills received."

Brecheen votes against $155B tax bill that expands welfare for illegals and weakens work requirement

Congressman Josh Brecheen Votes Against the $155 Billion Tax Bill That Expands Welfare for Low Income and Illegal Aliens

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Josh Brecheen and 46 other Republicans voted against H.R. 7024, the so-called “Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024.”

“I support the business deduction and depreciation changes in this bill, unfortunately, the low-income individual welfare benefit expansions (eligible to illegal aliens) that were added to obtain President Biden’s and Senate Democrats’ support made this a bad deal,” said Congressman Josh Brecheen.

HERO: Rep. Gann files bill to protect Oklahomans from Orwellian tax-by-the-mile plan

For some background, read this article from OklahomaVoice.com ('Oklahoma task force recommends implementing per-mile road tax'). ODOT, at the direction of a task force formed by the legislature in 2021, is wanting to charge Oklahomans per mile driven as opposed to by fuel tax at the pump.

This would be a "voluntary program" to start... like every government program ever. Miles would be submitted manually by participants... or via a government tracking device on your vehicle. Nothing could ever go wrong with that, right?

Enter State Rep. Tom Gann, taxpayer defender extraordinaire:

Gann Files Bill to Protect Oklahomans from Overreaching 'Road User Charge' Plan

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 9th) – Rep. Tom Gann, R-Inola, has filed what he called "a pivotal bill aimed at safeguarding Oklahomans' freedom and privacy."

House Bill 2970 comes in response to what Gann termed are growing concerns over the Oklahoma Road User Charge (RUC) Task Force's controversial "Road User Charge" proposal.

Poll: Oklahomans oppose race-based tax exemptions

Poll: Oklahomans oppose race-based tax exemptions

OKLAHOMA CITY (October 2, 2023) — A new poll shows Oklahomans strongly oppose exempting individuals from paying state income tax based on their status as a member of a Native American tribe.

According to the survey, conducted by WPA Intelligence (WPAi) on behalf of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA), 63% of voters agree that members of Native American tribes in Oklahoma should be subject to the same tax laws as all other citizens in Oklahoma.

Small: Great opportunity for tax cuts

Great opportunity for tax cuts

By Jonathan Small

For both moral and fiscal reasons, the time is right to cut Oklahoma’s personal income tax.

The moral case is easy to make. Due to rampant inflation during the Biden presidency, families have steadily lost ground. Tax cuts will allow Oklahoma families to keep more of their earnings and help fill the hole.

Special Session: House Dems seek grocery tax end, expand EITC and low-income sales tax credits

House Democrats File Special Session Tax Relief Bills For Working Families

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today House Democrats announced three bills their caucus has filed for the upcoming special session that provide tax relief to everyday Oklahomans.

“The Governor called this special session to find ways to provide tax relief to Oklahomans and we are putting forth our measures that will do that for working families, not just the wealthy few,”  said House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City.

Lankford: IRS destruction of 30M unprocessed returns(!!!) harmed taxpayers

They did what?? Thirty million unprocessed returns... the magnitude of incompetence in the IRS is simply incredible. Read Sen. Lankford's press release below:

Lankford: IRS Document Destruction Harmed Taxpayers

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (Sept. 22nd) – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined a letter with Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) and all Senate Finance Committee Republican members, demanding information from the IRS on new and previously unanswered questions. The letter comes after reports that provided troubling evidence of taxpayers who were directly harmed by the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) destruction of 30 million unprocessed tax returns.

Poll finds 65% support cutting or eliminating Oklahoma's income tax

Poll: Oklahomans support income-tax repeal

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 28, 2023) — A new poll shows Oklahomans overwhelmingly support cutting the state income tax and gradually eliminating the tax entirely.

According to the survey, conducted by WPA Intelligence (WPAi) on behalf of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) and Americans for Prosperity (AFP), 65% of Oklahoma voters support cutting the state income tax, while only 22% oppose income-tax cuts. The survey also found that 67% of voters support elimination of Oklahoma’s income tax.

Senate Pro Tem Treat Comments on Conclusion of the 2023 Regular Session

Senate Pro Tem Treat Comments on Conclusion of the 2023 Regular Session

OKLAHOMA CITY (May 26th) – Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, today commented on the conclusion of today’s regular session that began in February.

The pro tem said the Senate Republican caucus was more united than ever before and built momentum going into the summer, which he hopes to carry into next year.

Sen. Kirt seeks public input on state taxes through September forums

Sen. Kirt seeks public input on state taxes through September forums

OKLAHOMA CITY - Sen. Julia Kirt will host a series of public forums in September to let Oklahomans hear from tax and economic experts about Oklahoma’s tax system as well as allow citizens to share their ideas, concerns, and questions on the issue.

State Chamber urges "Supply Side Revival", major tax reforms in special session

State Chamber Research Foundation Urges “Supply Side Revival”

Business Think Tank Urges Lawmakers to Adopt Flat Tax and Eliminate Anti-Business Taxes in Special Session 

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The State Chamber Research Foundation (SCRF) is sharing a series of tax proposals for policymakers to consider as they work on tax policy and budget issues in future legislative sessions. The policies, which include both tax cuts for individuals and the elimination of business taxes that discourage growth and investment, are aimed at tackling inflation while promoting long term economic growth and tax relief. 

Treat appoints tax reform working group in state senate to study options in special session

There's some passive-aggressive bickering going on between the House and Senate over this "inflation relief" special session:

PPT Treat announces membership of tax reform working group

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 15th) – Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat has announced his appointments for a tax reform working group to study proposals in relation to the ongoing special session.

House Republicans introduce slate of tax and inflation relief bills in special session

Legislating by shotgun blast; it appears that the House is throwing any and every option out on the table for the "inflation relief" special session:

House Republicans introduce inflation relief bills

OKLAHOMA CITY (June 13th) – House Republicans introduced a slate of inflation relief bills in special session Monday, reiterating their support for helping Oklahomans overcome the rising cost of goods and services.

Cherokee Chief orders removal of Oklahoma flags from Cherokee Nation properties

CHEROKEE NATION CHIEF BANS DISPLAY OF OKLAHOMA STATE FLAG

by Ray Carter (Center for Independent Journalism)

Through a new executive order, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. has prohibited display of the state flag of Oklahoma at tribal facilities.

Hoskin’s executive order declares that the chief of staff of the Cherokee Nation shall “cause all flags of the State of Oklahoma to be removed from Cherokee Nation properties” by Sept. 1.

It’s the latest indication that some tribal officials and activists do not consider themselves citizens of Oklahoma now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled their tribal reservations were never disestablished, creating numerous jurisdictional questions on everything from public safety to taxation.