House Republicans Vote for Money Over People

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 12th, 2008) Today Republican House Leadership decided to give a tax break to the rich and throw the average Oklahoman under the bus. Representative Richard Morrissette, D- Oklahoma City, filed an amendment to House Bill 3103 which would have eliminated the sales tax on groceries.  This idea was in the 100 Ideas book, which was so passionately pronounced by Ex-Speaker of the House Lance Cargill, R- Harrah.  Ex-Speaker Cargill spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to advocate this book, only to vote against #25 in the 100 Ideas book, eliminating the sales tax on groceries.  House Bill 3103, which passed the House Floor, will give a sales tax exemption for people selling gold bouillon and rare coins.

“In a time of $110 barrel of oil and $3.10 per gallon gasoline at the pump and rising as we speak, House Republican Leadership thought it was more important to give a tax break to investors of gold bouillon than they did to working Oklahomans,” said Representative Morrissette.  “It is unbelievable that they would deny working Oklahomans a sales tax exemption on the most regressive tax there is, the grocery tax.  I want the working men and women of South Oklahoma City to know that I came within one vote of getting this done.  But yet, on an almost straight party line vote, the House Republican Leadership gave a tax break to the wealthy and well-to-do at the expense of working families.”

“The elimination of the grocery tax was a foundation of the House Republicans while they were in the minority.  I ask the People of Oklahoma, why have they forsaken thee?  The answer is that when it comes to helping working men and women, the Democratic Caucus in the House is fighting for you.”
Source: Press Release