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Rep. Tess Teague: Why I said 'No' To A Bad Tax Bill

6/23/2018

 
House Freshman, Tess Teague Writes to her constituents about her vote on the failed Tax bill, HB1054x.
  ​Today we heard HB1054X: cigarette tax, fuel tax, GPT, 3.2 beer tax and tobacco product tax. The bill failed and I voted against it.
  I didn't vote against it [not] because I'm "in the pockets" of oil and gas. In fact I've been outspoken on my desire to raise GPT and I voted in favor of raising $50 million worth of GPT for this fiscal year last week.
  I didn't vote against it because I don't care about teachers, health care or mental health services. That couldn't be further from the truth.
  I voted against it because this was not the right way to fix the problem. Because I knocked doors for a year and half and I know that House District 101 does not want more taxation. Because I believe in standing firm in my principles and 65% of this district sent me to the Capitol because they believed I would do just that.


WORTH REPOSTING: This article ran on 11/8/17
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Rep. Tess Teague Debates against HB1054x, in special session.
  Everyone could see this was a bad piece of legislation and I heard so many times, "I don't like this bill. But I support a yes vote" or other variations of the same sentiment. Even those that would begrudgingly support it didn't like it and knew it wasn't good enough. Why settle for less? Our state does not deserve settling for less.

  Many people think that this was our last option and that since this failed, several critical services and programs will end. Let me be clear, that is not true. Please do not fall prey to fear-mongering. There are other options and we will get them passed. 
​  Last week the House passed a series of bills that would use cash on hand to fund DHS, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority fully until April, giving us more time to work and preventing any cuts. The Senate has refused to hear those bills and instead sent us an unconstitutional, log-rolled bill in the form of a $500 million tax increase package. Does that make sense? Right now we're dealing with state agencies who have committed fraud and mismanagement with tax payer dollars, yet instead of conducting the necessary audits and finding efficiencies in government....we're going to our citizens with our hands out saying "Give us more!!" before addressing those issues. I refuse to punish the citizens of this state by making them pay for a problem they did not create.
  Quite frankly I'm sick of the games being played at the Capitol. I'm tired of seeing people that are in desperate need, families affected, jobs lost, answering calls of hurting constituents who are terrified of losing the help they rely on for their families. Our people are worth more than getting caught in the crossfires of the games being played at that Capitol and I will not vote on this kind of illegal and astronomical tax package and act like we're heroes for doing it. I urge my colleagues in the House, and especially my colleagues across the building in the Senate chamber, to get back in there and do the right thing. I'm ready to make the right votes.

    Sooner Politics
      Editorial  

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    David Van Risseghem reports the events and adds some perspective. 


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    David Van Risseghem  is the Publisher of SoonerPolitics.org. The resource is committed to informing & mobilizing conservative Oklahomans for civic reform.  This endeavor seeks to utilize the efforts of all cooperative facets of the Conservative movement...

    ​"No politician 'checks off every box" in your list of issues. You have to prioritize and use personal discretion regarding every current and future issue that you can imagine. Then you have to also judge integrity & consistency. A candidate's openness to study the issues & courage to think for themselves. Then you need to review their honesty & work ethic.  I respect any voter's decision, when they've informed themselves and took voting seriously." - David Van Risseghem
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 SoonerPolitics.org is committed to informing & mobilizing conservative Oklahomans for civic reform & restored liberty. We seeks to utilize the efforts of all cooperative facets of the Conservative movement... Content of the diverse columns are solely at the discretion of the dozens of websites who create the content.   David Van Risseghem  is the founder of this platform.
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