Oklahoma Budget Crisis Spurs Battle Among Oilmen

By SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle
Tue, 05/23/2017 - 4:35pm

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An impasse among Oklahoma lawmakers over how to fix the state's worst budget problem in decades has sent the legislature spiraling into chaos and focused blame on the usually sacrosanct oil and natural gas industry for not paying more taxes. [...] a sharp cut approved two years ago in oil and gas production taxes, which has led to severe budget problems for schools and social services, has triggered bitter infighting not only among Republicans but industry leaders about whether oilmen are paying their fair share. [...] Democrats in the Legislature, who are leading the push for higher rates, say the industry is turning a blind eye to the damage the revenue loss is causing to communities, especially schools, where arts, sports and Friday classes are being cancelled. Rebecca Murdock, a special education teacher from Tulsa who came to the state Capitol on Tuesday to advocate for a higher gross production tax, said she's lost a teaching assistant and had to pay for her own supplies amid budget cuts at her school. [...] we have big movement on that (production tax), it's just nickels and dimes, and everyone will suffer.

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Topics:  oklahoma city ap     an    democrats   legislature   rebecca murdock   tulsa   capitol   oklahoma   budget   oilmen   production   industry   schools   state   tax   gas   higher   taxes   paying   
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