Republican candidate for Governor Gary Richardson is planning to sue the state over last-minute revenue raising laws which passed during last week of the session. Richardson’s targets are House Bill 1449 which charges a fee to owners of electric and compressed natural gas vehicles, House Bill 2348 uncouples the state deduction rate from the federal rate, and House Bill 2433 which adds a 1.25 percent sales tax to motor vehicle sales.
Richardson claims all three violate the Oklahoma Constitution’s Article 5, Section 33.
“Our state constitution reads in Article 5, that ‘the people reserve to themselves the power to propose laws and amendments to the Constitution and to enact or reject the laws and amendments at the polls, independent of the legislature,’” Richardson said during a Tulsa press conference on Thursday.
The attorney said it was time to take a stand against unconstitutionally passed laws.
“Folks, when our Legislators and Governor willfully disregard our State Constitution, it’s up to the people of our state to take a stand, which is why I am standing here today, for the citizens of our state.”
Richardson has hired Stan Ward, the same attorney behind State Question 640 which restricted legislative power in the area of taxation, as his lawyer to handle the suit. He expects to file the lawsuit soon.
