The elimination of the state’s death tax tops the list of 2006 legislative priorities for rural Republican state senators, members of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus announced Wednesday.

“It’s double taxation and it’s immoral to tax one’s income and then to tax the same person again upon death. A family shouldn’t have to sell off the family’s farm or small business just to pay the death tax. This is why we support the full and total elimination of the death tax in the state of Oklahoma,” stated Sen. Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, the chairman of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus.

The group also repeated their pledge to oppose any forced school consolidation efforts in the Oklahoma Legislature. And the rural Republicans pledged to seek more funding for roads and bridges and to support emergency funding for rural fire departments.

“Roads and bridges have been neglected for many, many years by the Senate Democrats. Senate Republicans – led by the Rural Caucus – are committed to making the repair and maintenance of our roads and bridges a priority in the state budget. It is important to note that the Republican roads and bridges plan significantly increases the funding that goes to county roads and bridges,” stated Sen. David Myers, R-Ponca City.

“We owe a debt of gratitude to our rural firefighters. Members of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus are committed to working in a bipartisan fashion to make sure they have the emergency resources needed to continue protecting lives and property during this horrible drought,” said Sen. Harry Coates, R-Seminole, whose rural Senate district has been hit hard by wildfires.

“Rural Republican senators are also repeating the pledge we made last year: We will oppose any effort in the Oklahoma Legislature to forcibly consolidate rural school districts,” Laughlin said.

Senate Republican Rural Caucus
2006 Legislative Priorities
- Eliminating the state death tax.
- Providing additional funding for roads and bridges.
- Supporting additional emergency resources for rural fire departments.
- Opposing efforts to forcibly consolidate rural schools.

Members of the Senate Republican Rural Caucus are:
- Sen. Owen Laughlin, Woodward, Chairman
- Sen. Patrick Anderson, Enid
- Sen. Don Barrington, Lawton
- Sen. Harry Coates, Seminole
- Sen. John Ford, Bartlesville
- Sen. Mike Johnson, Kingfisher
- Sen. Ron Justice, Chickasha
- Sen. David Myers, Ponca City

For more information contact:
Senate Republican Assistant's Office - (405) 521-5654