I clocked an interesting story in The Oklahoman this week. M. Scott Carter over there dug into a recent poll that asked participants about the cut in the personal income tax rate that Gov. Kevin Stitt’s been pushing. Stitt has been talking about a path to zero income tax for years now, and it seems to be creating friction between conservative ideologues and people who vote for Republicans but don’t wear bow ties for a living.
The thrust of the poll was a survey of next year’s gubernatorial race, but deeper down it asked participants a much more provocative question: Would you rather invest in roads and bridges, or cut the personal income tax rate?
Pollster Pat McFerron says we want both, with a slight preference toward the former. From The Oklahoman:
McFerron said the data he's gathered shows Oklahomans — by a slight margin — prefer investing in infrastructure over tax cuts. "We also see a preference for education funding and mental health funding over tax cuts," he said.
It’s kinda wild that this is even a conversation. Personal income tax is the state’s largest revenue stream, and you might recall that State Question 640’s passage in 1992 made it nearly impossible for us to raise taxes. Cutting it benefits the wealthiest 1% of Oklahomans at the expense of everybody else. Modernizing tax credits makes more sense as a strategy, but that’s hard to do—and where in this country do you see politicians doing hard things lately?
In other recent news:
- Scrambl’d closes in Greenwood, accusing Greenwood Chamber of Commerce of “negligence”
- Mayor and DA beefing over tribal prosecutions
- Tulsa World suffers a prolonged cyberattack
- The Colony and its fundraising collaborators donated $872 to Domestic Violence Intervention Services
- Tulsa Police is increasing patrols downtown
- Sobahn 82 opens location in Mother Road Market
- Tulsa Performing Arts Center announces 10-year plan for expansion
- Tulsa Public Schools in hot water after state releases audit
- Supreme Court throws out conviction of Richard Glossip
- Mom, come quick, they’re trying to make Tulsa into a tech hub again
