The head of the Oklahoma Policy Institute doubts the new budget plans will become reality. David Blatt says the cigarette tax hike would require a two-thirds majority and the Republicans don’t have it.
David Blatt; "Oklahoma's structural budget problems will not be solved while lawmakers insist on asking nothing from the wealthiest households and most profitable businesses in our state. This proposal simply continues the political grandstanding that has prevented the obvious, popular, and fair solution preferred by a large majority of Oklahomans."
He says that would require increasing the gross production tax and rolling back tax cuts for the wealthy.
"It's sad, because this is all another dog-and-pony show to protect big oil. They know the votes aren't there within their own caucus or our caucus," said Rep. Eric Proctor, D-Tulsa, the second-ranking Democrat in the House. "I don't think the people of Oklahoma are going to buy that we need to raise taxes on gasoline to protect big oil."
Senate Democratic leader John Sparks called Fallin's announcement a "media exercise" and said there aren't enough votes to pass the plan.
Norman Representative Emily Virgin, a Democrat, has already said she will be voting against the proposal.
Emily Virgin:" Their plan spends every dollar that it raises and does nothing for the budget hole we are inevitably facing next session. While it does include some positive aspects like a teacher and state employee pay raise, the plan also raises taxes on teachers and state employees. I will be voting no on this plan because I do not think it is moral or equitable to ask low and middle income Oklahomans to bear the burden of funding government while giving big oil a pass."