Democrats cool to Fallin’s State of the State

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma House Democrats are giving a cool reception to some of the proposals floated by Republican Gov. Mary Fallin in her final State of the State address.
New House Minority Leader Rep. Steve Kouplen says the series of tax increases and policy changes included in the “Step Up Oklahoma ” plan that Fallin endorsed on Monday “needs to be tweaked.” Some Democratic support would be needed to pass any tax increase in the House.
Democrats want to see the restoration of Oklahoma’s individual income tax to 5.25 percent and some tax deductions that benefit the poor and working-class taxpayers.
Some Democrats also complained that the increase in the gross production tax on oil and natural gas should be higher than the proposed 4 percent.