Oklahoma State Auditor Gary Jones has pitched his own budget compromise.
Jones’ plan calls for a 5 percent gross production tax for 36 months, a 75 cents per pack tax increase on cigarettes and little cigars, a 3 cents per gallon gas tax increase, and a 6 cents per gallon diesel tax increase.
All told, Jones said that would bring in $448 million for a $5,000 teacher pay raise and state employee pay raises. House Minority Leader Steve Kouplen said Democrats are on board.
"All 28 of our members would support this agreement if we could get it negotiated with the House Republicans," Kouplen said.
Jones pitched a tax plan earlier this month with a bigger cigarette tax increase, 4 percent gross production tax and a renewable energy production tax. Jones is a Republican candidate for governor, but he said this proposal is not a campaign stunt.
"In fact, to be honest with you, my people that I have said, 'Don’t you dare do this.' And I thought, 'Well, this isn’t about me. This is about Oklahoma,'" Jones said.
Rep. Emily Virgin said while the proposal does not address undoing income tax cuts for the wealthy, Democrats are OK with that.
"Without those being as high, without it hurting the working poor and middle-income families as much, we feel that we can leave out the income tax and push forward with that in the regular session or next session," Virgin said.
House Democrats also want the Senate to take up a bill capping itemized state income tax deductions, a measure that would bring in around $100 million. Party leaders are expected to discuss the proposals over the weekend.
