For Immediate
Release: August 3, 2005
Senator Mike Morgan
Morgan: Tobacco Tax Parity Worthy of Consideration
Senate President Pro Tempore
Mike Morgan said Wednesday that he shares the concerns voiced
to him by convenience store owners on the issue of a disparity
in the tobacco tax being paid by private retailers and some tribal
smoke shops.
“Allegations continue to surface that some Native American
tribes may not complying with the spirit, and perhaps even the
letter, of the tobacco compacts they have signed with the state,”
Morgan said.
Private retailers say that the alleged non-compliance puts their
stores and tribal smoke shops, which are following the spirit
and letter of their compacts, at an unfair competitive disadvantage.
“I am open to considering ideas that would solve the parity
issue, but this is an extremely complex question – made
even more so by the recent Oklahoma Supreme Court decision that
broadened the definition of special laws. If we can find a solution
to the issue, I am more than willing to consider tobacco tax parity
legislation in the current special session.
“Until we have a legislative solution, however, I urge the
Governor and the Attorney General to continue to
seek remedies through enforcement actions – including arbitration,”
Morgan said.
Morgan said he met with representatives of the Petroleum Marketers
Association to discuss the parity issue shortly after the regular
legislative session in May and has held other meetings on the
issue over the summer months.
The Stillwater Democrat said he is open to meeting with House
Speaker Todd Hiett on the issue of tobacco tax parity, corrections
funding or any other issue – an offer Morgan made to Hiett
during a brief face-to-face meeting in Tulsa Tuesday afternoon.
“Along with our plan to solve the public safety crisis created
by a shortage of correctional officers, Senate Democrats have
been working on the tobacco tax parity issue throughout the early
months of the interim. I’m pleased that it now appears that
the Speaker is in agreement that there’s work to do and
I’m hopeful he will be willing to come to the table in an
effort to find sensible solutions for Oklahoma,” Morgan
said.
For more information contact:
President Pro Tempore's Office - (405) 521-5605
