For Immediate Release:
August 24, 2005
Senate Leaders Say Focus Should Remain on Public
Safety
Senate leaders said Wednesday they are disappointed House
Speaker Todd Hiett is focusing on tax cuts targeted for wealthy Oklahomans
rather than addressing the safety of all of the state’s citizens.
“Our efforts should be focused on keeping Oklahomans safe,”
President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan said. “The Speaker has had more
than enough time to review a comprehensive plan to fund corrections
put forth by Senate Democrats six weeks ago.”
Senate Public Safety and Judiciary Subcommittee Chairman Kenneth Corn
said he is not surprised by the House Republicans’ attempt to
change the subject from corrections to tax cuts. He said today’s
tax cut announcement is simply the latest effort by House leaders to
focus on anything but public safety.
“House leaders have made it no secret that they want to wait until
next year to address corrections funding. Meanwhile violence continues
to plague our prisons and threaten our sense of security in communities
throughout Oklahoma,” Corn (D-Poteau) said. “By focusing
on tax cuts today, rather than coming to the table to hammer out a solution
to the public safety crisis, House Republicans are sending a message
across this state that says they will continue to ignore the safety
of Oklahoma families.”
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Jay Paul Gumm, who helped craft the
largest tax cut in state history last spring, said he will review the
Republican tax cut plan, but believes that any further tax cuts should
be targeted to help working families rather than the wealthiest of Oklahomans.
“On the surface, this appears to leave out Oklahoma’s working
families, and that is just not good policy,” said Gumm, a Democrat
from Durant. “I am more interested in lifting up the working families
who struggle every month to make ends meet.”
Gumm, an Assistant Senate Majority Leader, said the Legislature needed
to put money back into the pockets of the people who need it the most:
working families. He said when Republicans touted the estate tax as
an “envy” tax during their Wednesday morning press conference,
they demonstrated they intend to engage in a class war, turning their
backs on working families.
“However, before we even begin to think about tax cuts for next
year, we need to meet our responsibility toward public safety this year.”
Gumm added. “This is premature until we pass Senator Corn’s
corrections plan that will make Oklahoma’s families safer.”
Morgan, D-Stillwater, agreed.
“To continue to change the subject and ignore the public safety
crisis is irresponsible,” he said. “If House leaders continue
down this road, I may have no choice but to call Senators back to the
Capitol to deal with the public safety issue.”
For
more information contact:
Pro Tem's Office
- (405) 521-5605