The Republican House leadership scrapped a vote on the controversial Tobacco tax bill, Wednesday. They appear to have even less support for the confiscatory revenue measure than last May. Under the tobacco tax bill's language, the effective state sales tax equivalent on any tobacco tax would be 55%. Imagine the boldness of a govt. which would lay claim to such piracy. If a gas station hiked the price of fuel Part of the unofficial structure of the state legislature is the party caucus. the Republicans & Democrats each have a caucus chairman whose duties include bringing together members of the party who identify with a common set of principles. But the House Republican Caucus is massive, and massively diverse on so many issues. There are several who have all but given up on the Republican Caucus to provide a worthwhile use of their time. Attendance appears to be falling off. When you add to that the potential for bullying, heckling, and scolding; some legislators say that they experience so much stress and discouragement that they have little enthusiasm for attendance at the Republican Caucus meetings. Of the 72 Republican House members, less than 60 are currently even remotely supportive of the new confiscatory tax. |
In reflection, it seems quite wise that the Cockroft Committee completed their work prior to the first day of regular session. With all the predictable budget drama, and the hallways packed with various interest groups, lobby groups, school tours, pages, and standing committees; holding sensitive and closed-door hearings during the quiet days of January were well chosen.
The leadership team of McCall's is younger and more energetic than most. The personalities in leadership are vastly more engaging and determined to find consensus, as opposed to many past decades. Democrats generally hold out hope that McCall will seek solutions that garner vast bipartisan majorities, rather than straight party-line divisions.
|
Sooner Politics
|