Fallin: Election landscape creeps into support for taxes

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin says many of her ideas for shoring up a $1.3 billion budget hole remain in play this session.

But Fallin says many Republican legislators are hesitant to embrace major proposals like a tax increase or a bond issue until they know what kind of opposition they face in an election year.

The filing period for candidates seeking office was moved from June to April a few years ago. If unopposed, a lawmaker might be more willing to make a politically tough vote to raise taxes or eliminate a popular tax exemption.

All 101 House seats and half of the 48 Senate seats are up for re-election in the fall.

Among Fallin’s budget ideas are a tax increase on cigarettes and expanding sales taxes to some services.