Stitt again calls for eliminating Oklahoma’s grocery tax |

(The Center Square) – Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Monday referred to as for eliminating Oklahoma’s grocery tax again, months after he didn’t get it by the Senate. 

Stitt additionally proposed rolling again the state’s private earnings tax charge to three.99% throughout his State of the State handle. The present particular person earnings tax charge is 4.75%.

“These cuts will save each family in Oklahoma hundreds of dollars each year,” Stitt stated. “And it will continue to make Oklahoma one of the best states to live, work, and raise your family. When our economy is booming everyone wins. Your personal income goes up, opportunities expand, and the entire tax base grows.”

Lawmakers are coming into the 2023 legislative session with a $1.8 billion surplus and $4 billion in financial savings, the governor stated. 

The House of Representatives handed a tax reduction package deal in June that eradicated the grocery tax and progressively rolled again the non-public earnings tax charge to 4.25%. The tax cuts by no means made it to the Senate ground. 

Senate Appropriation Chairman Roger Thompson, R-Okemah, stated in September the state ought to use warning. 

“Economists predict this recession is going to be durable and painful,” Thompson stated in an announcement. “We have lived through years where we’ve had $1.3 billion shortfalls. We don’t want a repeat of those years.”

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, praised Stitt’s handle however didn’t point out the precise tax cuts in his assertion. 

“His clear vision and attainable results are focused on making Oklahoma the best place possible for everyone to succeed, while improving our economy and standing in the global market. Improving public education outcomes, tax reform and workforce development are all high priorities for Senate Republicans this year,” Treat stated in his assertion. 

The governor backed training financial savings accounts in his handle. 

“Other states like Iowa and Virginia and Florida and New Hampshire have already figured it out. Providing more options for students leads to better outcomes. Oklahoma cannot afford to be left behind,” Stitt stated. 

Democrats referred to as the plan a “voucher scheme.” 

“Rather than siphoning taxpayer dollars into a voucher scheme that will defund schools, we are calling on our colleagues to put the $4 billion in savings they are so proud of to good use addressing real problems like COVID learning loss and employment shortages in education and healthcare,” stated Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, who gave the response for Senate Democratic Caucus.