Oklahoma is not a poor state. It is a poorly run state. The core services of state government are in harm’s way. Among other things, we do not fund adequately public education, public safety, transportation and healthcare.
At the end of May, the governor is expecting the legislature to send her a balanced budget.
Will a strong leader be born?
Democratic House minority leader and gubernatorial candidate, Scott Inman, said that Oklahoma’s revenue failure is “self-inflicted.” He blames income tax cuts in the gross oil production tax as a principle reason why our revenue shortfall is almost $1 billion. He is correct.
If the big oil companies would resume paying the same percentage of tax the smaller independent oil producers are paying since the 1970s, paying their fair share would make up half the budget deficit.
For two decades, the big oil companies have enjoyed massive corporate welfare under the guise of the expense it costs to do horizontal drilling as opposed to vertical drilling. Horizontal drilling accounts for 90 percent of drilling in the State and any extra costs have been more than recovered.
State Senator Kevin Matthews said the legislature routinely gives to the rich and takes from the poor. It robs the hood. Oklahoma taxes oil and gas at the lowest rate in the nation. Oklahoma has had enough of corporate welfare.
To his credit, former Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett and president of Keener Oil and Gas, has said, “We believe that the oil industry should stand up and agree that returning the oil and gas production tax to its historical levels demonstrate our commitment to help solve this serious state budget crisis.”
To prove the point made by both Matthews and Bartlett, Governor Mary Fallin wants to cure the State’s budget deficits on the backs of the little guy: she wants to continue corporate welfare by giving tax cuts to the rich. Surprise?
She proposes collecting taxes from people who render services to others in more than 150 services and raise taxes on cigarettes, cigars, motor fuel and electric cars – just to name a few. Is it fair for the working secretary to pay taxes on residential utilities, barber shops or dental visits?
Governor Fallin’s tax proposal was so outlandish, burdensome, and unfair that the Lieutenant Governor, Todd Lamb, resigned from her cabinet because he disagreed with her sales tax proposal. Whether his resignation from her cabinet personified a profile in courage remains to be seen. Lamb also is a candidate for governor.
Fallin will soon term out as governor so the next election will see a host of wannabes seeking her job.
While Oklahoma has voted Republican now for decades, judging from the performance of the state legislature’s poor performance and poor leadership from the executive branch, allegiance to party affiliation should not be a primary consideration for all voters.
Gubernatorial candidates, Republican or Democrat, should be judged on whether they embrace the interests you embrace. The candidates should be judged on their ability to lead the legislature in bringing greater health care to the many. Mental health care in this state is abysmal. In Tulsa, for example, Dr. Gerry Clancy, president of Tulsa University, reports a school district receives at least one suicide note a day from an elementary school child.
The gubernatorial candidates should fight for increase benefits and wages for our teachers and stop the outflow of teachers to other states.
We need attention paid to our roads and bridges.
They must provide solutions to our overcrowded prisons and take the profit back from private run prisons.
These candidates must come with solutions to make big money less influential by reforming our election laws.
When it comes to tax policy, they should embrace a very simple principle: “To whom much is given, much is expected.” Tax credits, tax incentives and tax loopholes have their place but not to the detriment of the state.
The next election cycle we must elect leaders and legislators who are not bought and paid for by special interests. Our current financial dilemma is directly attributable to this practice.
We need election reform. The next candidates should address this issue.
The time for political partisanship should be given a secondary consideration. When the candidates come knocking, let them know you are not so much interested in their political labels or yours. You are more interested in them addressing your quality of life issues.
The numerous gubernatorial candidates will be seeking you out. It is your time to speak out and for them to speak truth to your power as a voter.
