Senate GOP Sinks House Repub., Dem. Revenue Deal To Hike Income, Cigarette Taxes, Expand Casino Gaming
Tribal Gaming Expansion Plan Stalls Oklahoma Budget Talks
By SEAN MURPHY, Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A major expansion of tribal gambling in Oklahoma — to include roulette and dice games — that House Democrats wanted in exchange for votes on a cigarette tax apparently derailed budget negotiations on Monday in the Legislature.
House Democrats and Senate Republicans held dueling press conferences to blame each other for stalling an agreement on a broad budget plan to help close an $878 million budget gap.
Republicans hold super majorities in both legislative chambers, but not enough in the 101-member House to pass a tax increase, which requires a three-fourths vote, without help from some of the chamber’s 26 Democrats.
House Democratic leader Rep. Scott Inman has withheld support for a cigarette tax hike in an effort to bolster Democrats’ role in budget negotiations.