Oklahoma House leader wants public vote on whether to make raising taxes easier
One of the Oklahoma House's senior lawmakers has filed legislation that could lower the vote threshold for tax increases and other revenue-raising measures.
Speaker Pro Tempore Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, filed the bill in anticipation of the next regular legislative session scheduled to begin Feb. 5.
To raise revenue, Oklahoma's constitution requires three-fourths of its lawmakers to vote in favor of a bill. That requirement made it nearly impossible for lawmakers to pass tax increases since 1992, when voters statewide approved State Question 640.
State Question 640 placed a constitutional mandate that any revenue bills originating in the Legislature meet strict guidelines for passage. Along with the vote requirement, those bills must be filed in the House rather than the Senate and cannot be adopted in the final five days of the session.
Read more: http://newsok.com/oklahoma-house-leader-wants-public-vote-on-whether-to-make-raising-taxes-easier/article/5578959