This is Oklahoma’s last chance

Yesterday, the State Senate passed with a bipartisan vote of 37-5 a revised version of HB 1035 which includes a $1.50 cigarette tax increase, a 6 cent fuel tax increase, and a 4 percent gross production tax on new wells. This comprehensive revenue plan, also dubbed Plan A+ or the "Grand Bargain", now goes back to the House, where it must pass with a three-quarters majority to take effect in time to save lives threatened by the state's budget emergency.

The deal contained in HB 1035 is the only solution left to avert devastating budget cuts, provide desperately needed raises for teachers and state employees, and restore the Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income workers. House leadership must now agree to put HB 1035 up for a vote, and House members from both parties must support it so that it reaches the supermajority needed to pass a revenue bill.

You are needed right now to contact your Representative and urge him or her to support the comprehensive budget plan contained in HB 1035. You should also contact House Speaker Charles McCall and House Majority Leader Jon Echols to insist they allow HB 1035 to be put up for a House vote.

• Click here to find your Representative.
• Speaker Charles McCall (405) 557-7412 charles.mccall@okhouse.gov
• House Majority Leader Jon Echols (405) 557-7354 jon.echols@okhouse.gov

This is it. This is the last chance for a comprehensive, fair, and long-term solution to the budget crisis. The hard reality is that there is no choice between HB 1035 and some better deal. The only choice is between HB 1035 and a far worse deal or no deal at all. The far worse deal, which has been promoted by House Republican leadership in recent days, involves a combination of one-time cash and cuts that would deepen next year's budget hole, put our credit rating at risk, and do more damage to important state services needed by Oklahoman families. If there's no deal at all by December 1st, Oklahomans' health care and social services will be devastated.

The Senate vote means that there is now a realistic path to a good outcome — but it will take House members knowing that they have their constituents' support for a tough vote. Please contact your House member and House leadership today in support of HB 1035. Be sure to share how the failure to resolve the budget crisis will affect your family, your business, or your community. See our Advocacy Alert for talking points and additional resources and our Special Session Frequently Asked Questions for more information.

Here is our full statement on why OK Policy supports the comprehensive budget plan that is on the table and that requires passage of HB 1035:

The comprehensive budget plan based on HB 1035 is the best possible outcome and the only good outcome under our current  circumstances. It recognizes that the state budget can only begin to be fixed with new recurring revenues and provides an important measure of fairness by curbing the tax break for oil and gas companies and restoring the earned income tax credit.  Most urgently, it averts catastrophic cuts to our health care system and social safety net while providing crucial pay raises for teachers and state employees. There is still much more work to do in the next regular session to ensure a fairer tax system and a budget that meets the needs of Oklahomans, but now is the time to approve this compromise and bring the budget emergency to an end. We call on House leadership to allow a vote on HB 1035 and urge all House members to support the bill.

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