Lamb says he would not vote to repeal tax increases
Staff Writer ccasteel@oklahoman.com
Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb, a Republican candidate for governor, said Friday he would not vote to repeal the tax hikes approved by the Legislature because of the budget chaos repeal would create.
“At this time, I will not vote to support the referendum,” Lamb said on the Pat Campbell show on KFAQ in Tulsa.
Lamb noted that he has been opposed to tax increases throughout his political career and reiterated that he would have vetoed House Bill 1010xx, which raised taxes on motor fuels, cigarettes and some oil and gas production.
However, he said, the budget that begins on July 1 is based on the new revenue.
“We’re going to spend the money now and then later this fall, hey, we’re not going to collect the tax?” Lamb said in the radio interview.
“What I do know is that this tax increase was not needed … They took the easy way out, the Legislature did.”
A group called Oklahoma Taxpayers Unite! is gathering signatures on a referendum petition in hopes of getting a statewide vote in November to repeal the tax bill. Former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, is a leader in the effort.
The tax hikes were approved to fund teacher pay raises. The referendum petition is being challenged in court by several education-related groups.
Some of Lamb’s GOP rivals, including Kevin Stitt, have also said previously they would have vetoed the tax package, which was signed by Gov. Mary Fallin.
Last week, on the same radio program, Stitt said he would not vote to repeal the tax hikes. Stitt said that would be “looking backwards.”
In a statement to The Oklahoman on Friday, Lamb said he would repeal the tax increases and the additional spending if that were possible.
“I support teachers and have long supported a teacher pay raise, and I have a plan for doing just that without raising taxes,” Lamb said.
“Today, however, it is vital the state fulfill the promises made to teachers and students and repeal makes that difficult, if not impossible.”
Other GOP gubernatorial candidates are split on the issue. Mick Cornett has said that he was glad Fallin signed the tax package. Auditor and Inspector Gary Jones supported the tax hikes.
Gary Richardson and Dan Fisher said last week that they would vote to repeal the tax hikes.