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Mary Fallin on Tax Reform

Republican

 


Allow ball and dice games at casinos to raise revenue

Legislative Summary: HB3375: The bill provides state approval for new game offerings under the State Tribal Gaming Act. Tribes may elect to begin offering non-house banked table games and sports pools.

KFOR Oklahoma's News-4 analysis: The Grand Casino in Shawnee went live with something they've never had before--ball and dice. The casino has long had their own versions of roulette and craps but they were played with cards instead of a ball and dice.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 68-22-9 on Mar/8/18; Passed Senate 29-16-3 on Apr/6/18; Signed by Governor Mary Fallin on Apr/10/18

Source: KFOR Oklahoma's News-4 on Oklahoma HB3375 voting records , Apr 10, 2018

Tax cuts if fiscally possible and politically possible

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin was noncommittal Thursday about whether her proposed budget for next fiscal year will include an income-tax cut after receiving projections that revenues available for appropriation will be down $170.8 million. "We're going to continue to talk to the Legislature about what is possible this legislative year as far as it relates to tax cuts," Fallin said. "We still believe in that as a state, but we do have a lot of other needs in Oklahoma."

The governor's spokesman was more succinct: "We have to see two things: What's fiscally possible and what's politically possible."

The governor said she continues to support philosophically the idea of a tax cut and believes lowering taxes is important in successfully competing with other states. Whether to once again push for a tax cut is a hot topic at the Capitol after the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down a law that called for incremental state income tax cuts tied to economic growth.

Source: The Oklahoman on 2014 Oklahoma Governor race , Dec 20, 2013

Tax cut gives people back some of their money

Q: When people look at the world right now, it can all feel very discouraging, especially the possibility of running for office. What makes it all worthwhile?

A: Making a difference in people's lives. Being actually able to create change, to shift the paradigm and a challenge that's within in my state--whether it's addressing our child welfare system, whether it's being able to pass initiatives that create major changes, like the Right to Work initiative. I've been able to have a tax cut; I'm proposing another one this year to give people back some of their hard-earned money to help improve the quality of their lives. I mean, the people of Oklahoma's per capita income has gone up in our state since I've been in office. So being able to create that change to make people's lives better.

Source: Make A Woman President?, by Marianne Schnall, p. 67 , Nov 5, 2013

Oklahoma Way: best place for tax dollars is family's pockets

Oklahomans have worked hard and made sacrifices to get where we are today. We sure don't want to go backwards. And what would take us backwards? Just look at Washington.

Partisan gridlock and political posturing take us backwards. Trampling the Constitution and jeopardizing our freedoms, like our right to keep and bear arms, takes us backwards. Tax increases and reckless spending also take us backwards.

Those are the Washington ways that weigh this country down--that propel us towards fiscal cliffs, recessions and depressions, and give us more of the same.

But the Oklahoma Way is different--we know the best place for taxpayer dollars is in the pockets and bank accounts of Oklahoma families, not funding bigger government or more bureaucracy.

Source: 2013 State of the State to Oklahoma Legislature , Feb 4, 2013

Shore up economy by making President’s tax cuts permanent

I believe the first step toward shoring up our economy is to make the President’s tax cuts permanent. They did exactly what they were designed to do...jump-start our economy. They should remain in place to serve as a further catalyst for economic growth.
Source: 2006 House campaign website, www.maryfallin.org, “Issues” , Nov 7, 2006

Voted NO on extending AMT exemptions to avoid hitting middle-income.

Congressional Summary: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to:
  1. increase and extend through 2008 the alternative minimum tax (AMT) exemption amounts;
  2. extend through 2008 the offset of personal tax credits against AMT tax liabilities;
  3. treat net income and loss from an investment services partnership interest as ordinary income and loss;
  4. deny major integrated oil companies a tax deduction for income attributable to domestic production of oil or gas.
Wikipedia.com Explanation: The AMT became operative in 1970. It was intended to target 155 high-income households that had been eligible for so many tax benefits that they owed little or no income tax under the tax code of the time. However, when Ronald Reagan signed the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the AMT was greatly expanded to aim at a different set of deductions that most Americans receive.

The AMT sets a minimum tax rate of 26% or 28% on some taxpayers so that they cannot use certain types of deductions to lower their tax. By contrast, the rate for a corporation is 20%. Affected taxpayers are those who have what are known as "tax preference items". These include long-term capital gains, accelerated depreciation, & percentage depletion.

Because the AMT is not indexed to inflation, an increasing number of upper-middle-income taxpayers have been finding themselves subject to this tax. In 2006, an IRS report highlighted the AMT as the single most serious problem with the tax code.

For 2007, the AMT Exemption was not fully phased until [income reaches] $415,000 for joint returns. Within the $150,000 to $415,000 range, AMT liability typically increases as income increases above $150,000.

OnTheIssues.org Explanation: This vote extends the AMT exemption, and hence avoids the AMT affecting more upper-middle-income people. This vote has no permanent effect on the AMT, although voting YES implies that one would support the same permanent AMT change.

Reference: Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act; Bill H.R.6275 ; vote number 2008-455 on Jun 25, 2008

Voted NO on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes.

H.R.4351: To provide individuals temporary relief from the alternative minimum tax (AMT), via an offset of nonrefundable personal tax credits. [The AMT was originally intended to apply only to people with very high incomes, to ensure that they paid a fair amount of income tax. As inflation occurred, more people became subject to the AMT, and now it applies to people at upper-middle-class income levels as well. Both sides agree that the AMT should be changed to apply only to the wealthy; at issue in this bill is whether the cost of that change should be offset with a tax increase elsewhere or with no offset at all. -- ed.]

Proponents support voting YES because:

Rep. RANGEL: We have the opportunity to provide relief to upward of some 25 million people from being hit by a $50 billion tax increase, which it was never thought could happen to these people. Almost apart from this, we have an opportunity to close a very unfair tax provision, that certainly no one has come to me to defend, which prevents a handful of people from having unlimited funds being shipped overseas under deferred compensation and escaping liability. Nobody, liberal or conservative, believes that these AMT taxpayers should be hit by a tax that we didn't intend. But also, no one has the guts to defend the offshore deferred compensation. So what is the problem?

Opponents recommend voting NO because:

Rep. McCRERY: This is a bill that would patch the AMT, and then increase other taxes for the patch costs. Republicans are for patching the AMT. Where we differ is over the question of whether we need to pay for the patch by raising other taxes. The President's budget includes a 1-year patch on the AMT without a pay-for. That is what the Senate passed by a rather large vote very recently, 88-5. The President has said he won't sign the bill that is before us today. Republicans have argued against applying PAYGO to the AMT patch. In many ways PAYGO has shown itself to be a farce.

Reference: AMT Relief Act; Bill HR4351 ; vote number 2007-1153 on Dec 12, 2007

Replace income tax & employment tax with FairTax.

Fallin signed H.R.25 & S.296

Source: Fair Tax Act 09-HR25 on Jan 6, 2009

Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes.

Fallin signed Americans for Tax Reform "Taxpayer Protection Pledge"

Politicians often run for office saying they won't raise taxes, but then quickly turn their backs on the taxpayer. The idea of the Pledge is simple enough: Make them put their no-new-taxes rhetoric in writing.

In the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, candidates and incumbents solemnly bind themselves to oppose any and all tax increases. While ATR has the role of promoting and monitoring the Pledge, the Taxpayer Protection Pledge is actually made to a candidate's constituents, who are entitled to know where candidates stand before sending them to the capitol. Since the Pledge is a prerequisite for many voters, it is considered binding as long as an individual holds the office for which he or she signed the Pledge.

Since its rollout with the endorsement of President Reagan in 1986, the pledge has become de rigeur for Republicans seeking office, and is a necessity for Democrats running in Republican districts.

Source: Americans for Tax Reform "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" 10-ATR on Aug 12, 2010

No European-style VAT (value-added tax).

Fallin signed H.RES.1346

Source: Opposing the Imposition of a VAT 10-HRs1346 on May 11, 2010

Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

Fallin signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge against raising taxes

[The ATR, Americans for Tax Reform, run by conservative lobbyist Grover Norquist, ask legislators to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge in each election cycle. Their self-description:]

In the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, candidates and incumbents solemnly bind themselves to oppose any and all tax increases. Since its rollout in 1986, the pledge has become de rigeur for Republicans seeking office, and is a necessity for Democrats running in Republican districts. Today the Taxpayer Protection Pledge is offered to every candidate for state office and to all incumbents. More than 1,100 state officeholders, from state representative to governor, have signed the Pledge.

The Taxpayer Protection Pledge: "I pledge to the taxpayers of my district and to the American people that I will: ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rate for individuals and business; and TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates."

Opponents' Opinion (from wikipedia.com):In Nov. 2011, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) claimed that Congressional Republicans "are being led like puppets by Grover Norquist. They're giving speeches that we should compromise on our deficit, but never do they compromise on Grover Norquist. He is their leader." Since Norquist's pledge binds signatories to opposing deficit reduction agreements that include any element of increased tax revenue, some Republican deficit hawks now retired from office have stated that Norquist has become an obstacle to deficit reduction. Former Republican Senator Alan Simpson, co-chairman of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, has been particularly critical, describing Norquist's position as "no taxes, under any situation, even if your country goes to hell."

Source: Taxpayer Protection Pledge 12-ATR on Jan 1, 2012

Other governors on Tax Reform: Mary Fallin on other issues:
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Brad Henry
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Connie Johnson
Drew Edmondson
Ervin Yen
Gary Richardson
Joe Dorman
Joe Maldonado
Kevin Stitt
Mick Cornett
Scott Inman
OK Senatorial:
Abby Broyles
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James Inhofe
James Lankford
Mike Workman
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vs.Candidate Hirsh Singh(R)
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AL: Incumbent Kay Ivey(R)
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AZ: Incumbent Doug Ducey(R,term-limited)
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Gubernatorial Debates 2023:
KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D)
vs.Former Gov. Matt Bevin(? R)
Senator Rand Paul(? R)
LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited)
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MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R)
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Page last updated: Mar 02, 2021