The chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee wants to use a new cigarette tax, existing cash, Rainy Day Fund money, and a modification to tribal gaming to fill the $215 million budget hole. As the special session approaches, Rep. Kevin Wallace will introduce his plan.
The plan includes increasing the cigarette tax. The Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down a cigarette cessation fee as unconstitutional because it was a revenue bill passed in the final week of the regular legislative session. Any tax increase will need 3/4th vote of both houses.
Wallace’s plan also changes the way tribal gaming revenues are handled. He wants gaming to allow for ball and dice games in exchange for vehicle registration rebates paid to the tribes. Many of the tribes offer their own license plate tags to their citizens. Elimination of the rebates would only happen if the tribes adopt the modified gaming.
“When the Supreme Court overturned the cigarette fee, it created a situation for our state agencies similar to a revenue failure,” said Wallace. “As a Legislature, we need to address the lost revenue. My plan would not only provide the lost revenue, but it would provide recurring revenue for the Legislature to utilize in next year’s budget hole and beyond without burdening citizens. My hope is the Legislature would come together in a bipartisan way for the state’s best interest and not for personal interest.”
Wallace believes his plan would create nearly $300 million in recurring revenue for the state’s coffers.
Governor Fallin plans to call the special session on September 25.
Since you don’t print what I write if it is critical of the Republicans I think I will spend my time doing something else more fulfilling like visiting higher mammals at the zoo.
That is certainly untrue. I have published every single comment you’ve made since I took over as Editor-in-Chief of The McCarville Report. On top of that, our records show that Mike did publish many of your comments as well. Have fun at the zoo.
Jason Doyle
SORRY BUT YOU ARE TRYING THOSE ALTERNATIVE FACTS MADE FAMOUS BY KELLY ANN CONWAY. LENGTHY AND FACTUAL RESPONSE TO WALLACE’S PLAN TO GET INTO THE MORASS OF GAMING LEGISLATION SENT TO YOU THE DAY YOU PRINTED HIS ARTICLE. DISAPPEARED INTO THE ETHER NET I GUESS.
IT RAISED ONLY LEGITIMATE CHALLENGES FOR ANYONE TRYING TO WORK IN THE INDIAN GAMING ARENA SINCE I AUTHORED THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION IN 2004 WHICH WAS OPPOSED BY ALL EXCEPT A HANDFUL OF REPUBLICANS. THEN OF COURSE I WOULD SEE THEM AT THE RIBBON CUTTINGS FOR CASINOS, FILLING THE SEATS IN FRONT OF SLOT MACHINES, ETC.
THAT’S THE WAY IT WORKS IN OKLAHOMA POLITICS. THOSE GUYS DON’T LIKE TO BE CALLED OUT ON THEIR HYPOCRISY AND I DON’T BLAME THEM BECAUSE THEY USUALLY GET COVER FROM NONSENSICAL TALK RADIO, BLOGS, THE OKLAHOMAN, AND UNFORTUNATELY TOO OFTEN MCCARVILLE REPORT.
I KNEW MIKE. HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE. WE COULD TALK, ARGUE AND DISAGREE AND GO ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC. MY KIND OF GUY.
LET’S JUST BLAME THIS LITTLE FLAP ON ‘THE COMPUTER’ AND MOVE ON. I’LL TRY IF YOU WILL.
CAL HOBSON
Thanks much and fair enough. My faith in McCarville Report, as well as the OKC Zoo, both reaffirmed.
Cal