Senate Minority Sides with Speaker to Promote “Grossly Irresponsible” Course on Tax Cuts

Following is a statement from Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. The statement is in response to the news release by Senate Republicans on tax bills being considered by lawmakers:

“The Senate Finance Committee gave hearings to dozens of tax cut bills – including the two mentioned by the minority leader – to allow them to be part of final budget and tax negotiations. All the bills passed by the Finance Committee, regardless of whether they were proposed by Republican or Democratic members, are worthy to be part of the final negotiations.

“It is grossly irresponsible to put only two ideas – income and estate tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthiest Oklahomans – ahead of all others. Also, it would be insulting to members of both parties who put forth tax cuts that would fall by the wayside were these two tax cuts blindly enacted without good faith negotiations.

“Apparently, the minority party is content to leave behind our rural firefighters, disabled veterans, retirees on a fixed income, and business development in favor only two proposals targeted to the wealthiest among us. If Speaker Hiett and the Senate minority get their way, each of those groups would see tax cut proposals to benefit them left off the table.

“I have always found it terribly ironic that Republicans point to the tax rate paid by the poorest among us to justify a tax cut for the wealthiest. Lowering the tax burden on middle income and working families is easy, and it would not require a tax cut for the rich to accomplish.

“What Senator Coffee is calling a ‘flip-flop’ really is the Senate keeping dozens of proposed tax cuts alive for good faith negotiations, and the Senate keeping its word to negotiate a final tax cut package. That process served Oklahomans very well last year with the largest tax cut in history, and I expect it will again if the bullying stops and the negotiations begin.

“As for me, my word is worth more than simply trying to score political points – regardless of the House’s actions or Senator Coffee’s almost daily press releases.