For newest House member, an oath and then a big vote

Just three hours after taking the oath of office, brand-new state Rep. Zack Taylor faced what many GOP lawmakers dread — a vote to raise taxes.

The Seminole Republican took office about 6 p.m. Tuesday, as thenewest member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Not long after, the House took up a tax increase that could have pumped $342 million into next year’s budget. The bill was the latest effort to find money to fill a nearly billiondollar budget shortfall. Oh, and he voted no. “The first vote was on one of the largest revenue bills since sometime in the ‘80s. It was definitely difficult,” said Taylor, who won a special election to fill the seat.

“I didn’t have time to go over the entire thing, honestly,” he said. “And I felt without having an informed decision, the best way for me was to go red on that.”

The bill would have raised taxes on cigarettes, gasoline and production of oil and gas.

It didn’t pass as intended and can be repackaged as a ballot measure instead of being enacted into law.

He’s the new guy, and he’s experiencing all the new guy problems, at least for a legislator. The House paused for a while before Tuesday’s vote to add his name to the big roll call board.

On Wednesday, his legislative email still hadn’t been set up. In passing, Taylor said he didn’t even know what bills he would be voting on.

“I think it’s in the best interest of my district for me to be informed on everything I vote on,” he said later about the tax hike vote. “And that’s the reason I made that choice.”

He said other lawmakers have ribbed him about having his first vote be such a big one. Definitely something to remember if he stays in office until term limits kick him out in 2029.

“It’s all in good fun, but it’s definitely been the joke of the Capitol today,” he said.