By John Dobberstein, Editor
Gov. Kevin Stitt called a special session for later this month as he called for state lawmakers to reduce personal income taxes for Oklahomans.
Stitt called for a special session of Oklahoma’s 59th Legislature beginning January 29 to seek a 0.25% reduction in the personal income tax for state residents.
In a statement Tuesday, Stitt said he’s been calling on state lawmakers “from day one” to take such an action.
“With record-breaking savings and a strong economic outlook, there’s no time like the present to deliver a pay raise to all Oklahomans. Let’s get this across the finish line before we head into regular session,” Stitt said.
At the end of 2023, the Oklahoma Board of Equalization said that $5.4 billion in savings, a strong economy, “and fiscally conservative policies,” Oklahoma is well-positioned to reduce the personal income tax burden.
The executive order Stitt issued said Oklahomans have experienced the highest level of inflation in four decades and need relief now. Stitt said he believes the vast majority of Oklahoma voters support cuting income taxes to keep more of their money, and they also deserve to know “where each elected legislator stands on giving hte people of Oklahoma the tax relief they desperately need.”
Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson (D-Oklahoma City), described the session as a “political stunt” and questioned Stitt’s fiscal responsibility.
“We have not even completed our agency budget hearings to gain a comprehensive understanding of our state’s fiscal picture, including the potential loss of federal dollars post-Covid,” Munson said.
“We will have four months beginning Feb. 5 to deliberate fiscal and policy ideas. Our job as legislators is to work through these important issues, as we are called to do every year.
“Instead, the governor is asking us to waste time and taxpayer dollars by throwing ideas at the wall to see what sticks. It is unwise and fiscally irresponsible to ask the Legislature to haphazardly cut revenue.”
Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, (R–Oklahoma City) described Stitt’s order similarly, noting that he met with the governor and Speaker McCall last week and Stitt “laid out his intentions for a special session regarding tax cuts.
He apparently told Stitt that state lawmakers wouldn’t know how much money the state will have to spend on a tax cut until the Board of Equalization meets to certify budget numbers in mid-February.
“It is unfortunate the governor has chosen this route,” Treat said. “The Senate will adhere to the call of the special session, as we have always done to respect and uphold our constitutional duty. However, I do not know what will be different between the last week in January and the last time he pulled this stunt in October.”
Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd (D-Oklahoma City) said lawmakers won’t get to the final equalization numbers until mid-February and she also noted budget hearings with state agencies had not concluded.
“That information and additional data are critical to this discussion. To undertake statewide, comprehensive tax reform in five days, without committee work and public vetting and input, would serve no other purpose than to place politics over policy,” Floyd said. “The governor’s call for a special session just one week before the regular session begins does not serve the best interest of this state or its citizens.”
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