Governor’s office won’t say if she’ll sign

Capitol Bureau ddenwalt@oklahoman.com

After a rowdy few days in the Oklahoma House, the state’s attention turned on Friday to the more slow-paced Senate that advanced an oddly timed tax cut and two other bills that draw revenue from casinos and internet sales.

Teachers packed the Senate viewing gallery, but there were no outbursts or jeers like representatives faced earlier in the week. Instead, the Senate plodded through the day, spending hours debating the two revenue measures and the third bill, which would reverse a tax scheduled to become law soon.

Outside the chamber was a different story. Oklahoma’s educators remained active protesters, ending the day with the chant, “See you Monday.” After the Senate adjourned, the Oklahoma Education Association announced what it wants to end the teacher strike. The OEA said it would halt the teacher strike if the Legislature repeals Oklahoma’s capital gains tax deduction and if the governor vetoes House Bill 1012xx, which passed Friday.

House Bill 1012xx preemptively eliminates a hotel and motel tax that was part of a larger tax package signed into law last week. Legislative leaders took this unusual route because the hotel/motel tax didn’t have enough votes to pass the Senate, which threatened the $457 million revenue bill linked to a teacher pay raise. The House’s historic vote to raise taxes would have been in vain if the Senate amended or rejected

the large tax package, so a deal was struck to advance the occupancy tax and later repeal it.

Still, there was some dissent among senators. Stroud Republican Jason Smalley urged the educators watching debate to make their way to the governor’s office and ask for the bill to be vetoed, a request echoed by the OEA in their demands. The bill passed by a 42-3 vote.

Senators also gave final approval of special session House Bill 1019xx, which would effectively lead third-party online retailers to collect and remit sales tax back to state coffers. It would affect purchases made through sites like Amazon, when the seller is someone other than Amazon.

A revenue estimate shows the state could see about $20 million extra, all of which is earmarked for education. Questions and debate on the bill took the entire morning. State Sen. Josh Brecheen, R-Coalgate, tried to attach two amendments that would have completely replaced the bill with legislation repealing wind power generation incentives.

Both amendments failed and the bill passed 42-2, but senators said it’s likely the Legislature will take up “wind reform” next week.

Senators then adopted House Bill 3375 in regular session, which allows tribal casinos to use traditional roulette and dice games.

It could raise $24 million but lawmakers won’t be able to spend that revenue until the 2020 fiscal year, when revenue totals are more precise.

The so-called “ball and dice” bill passed 29-16, but there weren’t enough votes to allow it to go into effect immediately as an emergency measure. Instead, it will become law Nov. 1.

All of the bills now head to the governor’s desk for final approval. In a midday statement, Gov. Mary Fallin’s office didn’t say whether she would sign them. “When the governor’s office receives the bills being heard today in the Senate, the governor will review them with her staff,” Fallin’s office wrote. “This is her usual practice to check the language of the final version, and to ensure the bills satisfy legal and constitutional requirements.”

Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz said he expects Fallin to sign the bills.