OKLAHOMA CITY - Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman believes another income tax cut will be on the agenda when lawmakers return to the Capitol in February.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that House Bill 2032 by Bingman, R-Sapulpa, and House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton was unconstitutional because it included more than one subject.
The measure would have reduced the top income tax rate to 5 percent from 5.25 percent on Jan. 1, 2015. It also created a fund to repair the crumbling state Capitol.
Bingman's comments came after state officials said Gov. Mary Fallin will have about $171 million less to build her fiscal year 2015 executive budget than was available in fiscal year 2014.
"I know the budget outlook is kind of shady right now," Bingman said. "I think we have made a commitment and we need to honor that for the people of Oklahoma."
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The tax-cut measure was backed by Fallin and the GOP-controlled Legislature after an agreement in the prior legislative session fell through.
"I will always support the idea of lower taxes for Oklahoma families," Fallin said. "We want Oklahomans to keep more of their hard-earned money, and low taxes are an important wayofattractingnewjobsand businesses to the state. Moving forward, I will work with the Legislature to see what is possible as we build our budget to reflect this year's fiscal realities."
Shannon issued a statement the day of the ruling but declined to elaborate further.
"I am prepared to act quickly with legislative leaders and the governor to restore what the Supreme Court has undone," Shannon said the day of the ruling.
Several big-ticket items will fall in the Legislature's lap this coming session, including a drop in federal dollars for the state's Medicaid agency, calls for additional funding for education, state employee pay raises and the need to come up with a plan to fix the Capitol.
Keith Gaddie, a University of Oklahoma political science professor, doesn't believe the Supreme Court's decision to toss the tax cut will affect lawmakers in the 2014 elections.
"No, I don't think it will matter at all," Gaddie said.
But voters will be upset if certain key issues, such as state employee pay, are not addressed.
Senate Minority Leader Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, said HB 2032 was obviously a political bill and a blatant violation of the state Constitution's single-subject rule.
He hopes a tax-cut bill doesn't surface but believes it probably will.
"There will be several tax-cut bills introduced," Burrage said. "The question becomes how far do they make it? I am certain we will be voting on a number of tax-cut bills, primarily because it is an election season."
House Minority Leader Scott Inman, D-Del City, said he believes legislative leadership knew the bill would be struck down but chose to proceed anyway.
Bingman disagreed.
The measure was passed after legal research was completed, Bingman said.
"We felt like it was fully constitutional,"Bingman said.
Inman said his caucus for years has argued for proper funding for education, public safety and other areas.
For the GOP to push for another tax cut in the coming session given the budget picture "demonstrates their blind allegiance to pursue partisan ideology as opposed to good public policy."
Barbara Hoberock 405-528-2465
Brian Bingman: “I think we have made a commitment and we need to honor that for the people of Oklahoma.”
