Candidate to challenge revenue measures

Republican gubernatorial candidate Gary Richardson announced Thursday that he plans to file a Supreme Court lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of three revenue raising measures approved during the last legislative session.

“When our legislators and governor willfully disregard our state constitution, it’s up to the people of our state to take a stand,” Richardson said.

Richardson said he plans to challenge:

• House Bill 1449, which creates a “motor fuel tax fee” which charges a fee to owners of electric and compressed natural gas vehicles to make up for their owners not paying a motor fuel tax.

•House Bill 2348, which he says effectively raises taxes on the millions of Oklahomans who take the standard deduction on their state income tax returns. The bill would uncouple the state deduction rate from the federal rate.

• House Bill 2433, which will require individuals to pay a new 1.25 percent sales tax on motor vehicle purchases in addition to the excise tax Oklahomans currently pay.

Richardson claims those bills are tax increases and the Legislature can only pass a tax increase with a three-fourths vote, which it didn’t get. A couple of the bills were passed in the last five days of the legislative session, which Richardson contends is another violation.

Richardson said he plans to file his lawsuit “in the next few days” and said he will be represented by Norman attorney Stan Ward.