Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt should be more concerned with a civil working relationship with the state's tribes than whether some Native Americans will pay state income tax.
A case winding its way through the courts could determine whether tribal members living on tribal land while working for their tribe are required to pay state income tax.
The question asked of the courts was foreseeable after a Supreme Court ruling stating Oklahoma's reservations were never disestablished.
We believe — regardless of the outcome of the court case — this is another possible negotiation point with the state's tribes. That is, if the state is willing to negotiate with tribes in a civil, productive way. So far that hasn't been the case in Stitt's administration.
Stitt is concerned it is unfair to all four million Oklahomans if some Oklahomans don't have to pay state income tax.
Stitt wants a special session of the Legislature to draft a law that would ultimately eliminate the state income tax if some people — read: tribal members — don't have to pay it.
His stance could sound reasonable if he had not already said he wants to eliminate our state income tax. The fate of our state income tax — it appears — would be the same if Stitt has his way regardless of the outcome of this lawsuit.
It appears Stitt likes the political posturing of trying to protect non-Natives over logic.
Not every tribal member in the state lives on tribal land. Not every tribal member living on tribal land works for their tribe. The total potential loss of state revenue isn't clear, but clearly is not as much as eliminating the state income tax for all.
We believe tribal leaders want to work with state leadership to patch any holes created by the Supreme Court's ruling in the McGirt case.
We suspect tribal leaders will tax their citizens working for their tribes in much the same manner as Oklahoma taxes workers in the state. We think tribal leaders would be willing to negotiate a way to ensure Oklahoma does not lose vital revenue because tribal members living in Oklahoma use the same government services as all four million Oklahomans.
It is important to note this court case was not initiated by tribal leaders, but by a tribal member seeking relief from state income tax. That's what Stitt has proposed — all 4 million Oklahomans deserve relief from state income tax.
Rather than political posturing, Stitt should engage with tribal leaders to see if there is some kind of compromise on the issue through negotiation.
[Editorial / Muskogee Phoenix]
