Proposal would reduce tax hike vote threshold
To Okmulgee state Rep. Scott Fetgatter, some of his fellow House members are like the peacocks he lived near as a child.
Pretty, but also loud and annoying.
Fetgatter's legislation would ask voters if it should be easier for lawmakers to raise taxes. His resolution, if it passes the Senate, would become a statewide ballot question to amend the Constitution and reduce the threshold set by State Question 640 more than two decades ago.
If voters approve, the Legislature would only have to muster a 66 percent majority rather than 75 percent. The Legislature could still send proposed tax increases to a statewide vote with a simple majority.
But Fetgatter, a Republican, faced opposition from both sides. Conservatives in the Oklahoma House said State Question 640 was the peoples' will that shouldn't be reversed. Some Democrats, who have built a power base by blocking GOP attempts to raise
taxes, said that the bill would make it easier for leadership to push regressive taxes.
“If we cede this authority to you, by the time you come to Jesus on revenue, what is your solution?” state Rep. Scott Inman, D-Del City, said during debate. “We’ve already proven what you will do, you’ll take it out of the pockets of the poor people of the state.”
Sallisaw Republican John Bennett said if it’s easier for future lawmakers to raise taxes, they’ll be less likely to cut spending and find government waste.
The resolution, he said, “gives this body a free pass to stick it to our citizens.”
Fetgatter seemed caught off guard by the response.
“What I let you all do today is let you stand up and grandiose with your peacock tail out,” Fetgatter said. “Don’t tell me about the crap you want to talk about. I’ve watched you showboat. But here’s the deal. Tell me what you’ve done.”
Lawmakers have struggled to find revenue for a number of priorities, including budget holes approaching $1 billion and political pressure to adopt a pay raise for teachers and state
employees.
Tax increases need 76 votes in the House, but Democrats hold enough seats to effectively block any proposals if they all vote together. When Democrats agreed to a tax increase last year during special session, a group of conservative Republicans formed to block its passage.
Votes like that led constituents to ask Fetgatter for the bill.
“Since 1992, we have lost many constituents in our districts, God rest their souls. And we’ve had many constituents who’ve aged into being able to vote,” he said. “We have 25 years of voters who have no say in how we handle revenue.”
House Joint Resolution 1050 passed by 51 votes, the absolute minimum for it to advance to the Senate. It would not need the governor’s approval to appear on the ballot.