For Immediate Release: May 9, 2006


Senator Pruitt discusses SB 2022 as (L-R) Senators Todd Lamb,
Clark Jolley, Owen Laughlin and Cliff Branan look on.

Statement from Sen. Scott Pruitt Following Tuesday’s Senate Vote
to Send SB 2022 to Conference Committee

"Fiscal conservatives, Democrats and Republicans alike, need to stand up and hold the line on cutting our income tax to 4.9 percent.

I can tell you this. The people of Oklahoma do not want another $45 dollar rebate check. They deserve better than that, and the Speaker of the House has publicly said he’s committed to doing a budget with a 4.9 percent cut. It is my hope he will uphold that commitment.

Using the surplus tax revenue to cut the income tax to 4.9 percent would mean state government would still grow by 8 percent. It grew by 12 percent last year, so that’s 20 percent growth in two years. I hardly think Oklahomans would say that’s robbing state government of funds necessary to provide services – quite the opposite.

Senate Bill 2022 seeks to reduce the state income tax rate from 6.25 to 4.9 percent, allowing Oklahomans to keep more of their own hard-earned money and create lasting economic development.

Rather than have a straight up or down vote, Senate Democrats instead voted today to send the bill to a conference committee, where it might be subject to negotiations seeking to dramatically reduce the tax cut.”

For more information, contact:
Senator Pruitt's Office: (405) 521-5602