The Oklahoma Senate has passed two measures which will add more revenue to help fund education and teacher raises while keeping a promise to repeal the recently passed hotel tax.
During a rare Friday session, House Bill 3375 and House Bill 1019xx won approval by senators.
HB 3375 is known as the “ball and dice” bill. It would allow tribal casinos to begin offering games like roulette and craps. According to a House fiscal analysis, the measure would generate approximately $24 million next fiscal year.
Moving to special session, the Senate also passed the “Amazon” bill, HB 1019xx. It would require online retailers to collect Oklahoma sales or use taxes and remit them to the state of Oklahoma. A Senate fiscal impact statement indicates the state would gain $19.6 million next fiscal year and $20.5 million in fiscal year ’20.
Those bills were part of a compromise to repeal the hotel/motel tax which was part of a revenue package passed to help fund the teacher raises and education. That vehicle was House Bill 1012xx. It was passed by the Senate Friday afternoon.
The “ball and dice” and “Amazon” bills more than offset the revenue lost by repealing the hotel tax.
Governor Fallin has indicated she will research and likely sign the bills once they reach her desk.
Sources tell The McCarville Report this could open the door to end the teacher walkout. However, several school districts have announced they will be closed on Monday.
Update: Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz and Majority Floor Leader Greg Treat held a press conference addressing the bills passed Friday. KWTV News 9 hosted a video feed of the press conference on its Facebook page. You can view the press conference below.
Throw more money at a problem. BUT NO education reforms, that are long overdue and badly needed.
Ball and dice moves us closer to looking like Las Vegas, which is not an advance for the state. It will bring with it yet more spousal abuse, child neglect, and impoverishment of people already in poverty. Appalling.