A growing concern for the upcoming year is the Governor the Republican Legislature's plans to cut or eliminate the state's income tax, all while making a plan of intent to increase taxes on the middle class. According to the Oklahoma Policy Institute,‎ "The $2 billion-plus that the individual income tax brings in each year accounts for about a third of the state budget and is the single largest source of support for education, health care, transportation, public safety and other necessities." The Chairman says, "Governor Fallin has promised better schools, better roads, and better state services; I am puzzled as to how she plans to achieve this with a third of the the revenue stream missing. How do we replace one third of our income? Fallin gave no answer!" 

Governor Fallin conveniently forgot to mention that she sold out Oklahoma infants by “quietly signing into law” Emergency Rule 365:10-1-15, which allowed insurance companies to deny coverage for newborn infants age zero to one year of age. Her actions conflict with a self-proclaimed pro-family, pro-life politician. The Chairman notes the irony of "her concern for Oklahoma’s high infant mortality rate" with the emergency rule's rather heartless intent. "This is the age at which infants are most at risk, many procedures for children this age could easily bankrupt most Oklahoma middle class families. Where is her concern for family or life in this decision?" 

The Governor touted education as one of her priorities. She specifically mentioned college tuition costs, yet as the Chairman added, no details were given as to "how will she accomplish this, especially with the continued increase in tuition for students, and the decline in state funding for these public institutions". The record of this administration and the Republican controlled legislature in regards to education has been one of broken promises. Particularly, the past promise of giving a stipend to teachers who become National Board Certified, which is being phased out by this Republican administration. Chairman Collins noted, “How are we to attract and retain good teachers if we don't reward them for continuing their professional training to become more effective educators. Is the State going to make good on that promise, and make up for the years that payment was skipped?” 

The Governor included a laundry list of improvements and projects with no details as to how she would she would accomplish these tasks or even pay for them. Comments were made about the "State Emergency Fund needing replenishment; various needs of the Medical Examiners Office; Mental Health, Veteran's Issues, and the improvement of the Department of Human Services, but again, where will any additional funding come from?" the Chairman also adds, "while constantly promoting her 'new tax cut program' which is basically a reduction in the State income, and yet she continually talks about more spending, such as repairing the Capitol Building and our poor roads and bridges". As mentioned earlier Oklahoma receives a third of its operating budget from income taxes, and due to the nature of our laws it is extremely difficult to raise taxes. This means that Fallin's policies could have disastrous effects for decades to come. She will force cities, counties, and school distrits to raise taxes 

In summation, it appears that Governor Fallin believes that with her fuzzy math “trickle down” economics will work. How else could she explain that by cutting Oklahoma’s income, the State could afford to pay for all the increases she proposes, and still balance the budget as we are constitutionally required? Again, she can't have her cake and eat it too! 

 ####