OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Bills to increase state funding for improvements to Oklahoma roads and bridges are heading to the full House and Senate for a vote.

House and Senate budget panels approved the bills Monday to divert more money from the state's general revenue fund to separate funds earmarked for transportation.

The first bill diverts an additional $18 million in tax revenue next year from the general fund to improve state roads, bridges and highways. The measure also increases the cap on the state roads fund from $435 million to $575 million.

A second bill decreases by 7.5 percent the amount of motor vehicle taxes apportioned to the general fund and diverts 5 percent for improving county roads and bridges and 2.5 percent to fund weigh stations.

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TALALA — About $16 million recently has been poured into road improvements along a two-lane stretch of federal highway where at least a half-dozen people have died in crashes since 2009.

U.S. 169 narrows from four lanes to two at the north edge of Talala in Rogers County. It remains primarily two lanes for about 34 miles to the Kansas state line, said Kenna Mitchell, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

The agency opened a $12.2 million upgrade on that highway north of Talala in February. Workers built 5 1/4 miles of new road, shifting U.S. 169 west and adding 8-foot paved shoulders where no shoulder previously existed, said Mark Zishka, state construction engineer... FULL ARTICLE

House Republicans unhappy with a proposed income tax-cutting measure could derail the plan by ganging up with House Democrats and vote to kill the measure this week.

One in four of the 67 House Republicans would have to vote against their leadership in order to bring down the proposal, which was developed last week after two weeks of intense talks between the GOP governor and Republican legislative leaders.

House Minority Leader Scott Inman, D-Del City, said the 31 members in his caucus are united to vote against the proposal contained in House Bill 3061.

“Education has been cut by hundreds of millions of dollars over the last several years, class sizes are growing,” Inman said. “Our roads and bridges are crumbling, and we're struggling to pay for core services for our senior citizens. To say that this is the time for hundreds of millions of dollars worth of tax cuts, we believe, is fiscal irresponsibility.

“What they (Republicans) determine is revenue growth, we view as an opportunity to pay down our debts and pay back our responsibilities,” he said. “We're still not back to where we were in 2007 and '08 numbers, so as revenue starts to come back, it's our opportunity to reinvest in those core services of government instead of eliminating it in the form of tax cuts.” FULL ARTICLE

BY World's Editorials Writers
Saturday, May 19, 2012
5/19/2012 4:50:52 AM

There was some relief in the tax-cut proposal negotiated with Gov. Mary Fallin and Republican legislative leaders - it wasn't as drastic as once proposed - but it still calls for some difficult reductions to some necessary services.

Fallin and the leaders agreed to cut the state's top income tax rate to 4.8 percent from 5.25 percent. The reduction would take effect for tax years 2013 and 2014.

Another concern is the trigger that would reduce the top tax rate even further - to 4.5 percent - if state revenue in personal income tax grows by 5 percent.

The plan wisely calls for keeping the broad-based tax breaks for Oklahoma's working families.

However, leaders in the Senate and House have insisted that any tax cuts must be revenue neutral. This plan would cut state revenues by more than $100 million. That means that core services such as schools, public safety and higher education, among other needed services, will continue to suffer... FULL ARTICLE

Aldridge, R-Midwest City, said the cost of the project “has just gone completely out of control.”

Anderson, R-Enid, said the state has surpassed its original commitment to provide $33 million in funding for the center, which now has a price tag of about $170 million... FULL ARTICLE

The joint proposal represents a tax cut of over $218 million to Oklahomans when fully implemented in FY 2014, and would cut taxes by an additional $121.4 million in FY 2015 should the growth trigger be reached. Lost revenue is partially offset by tax reforms totaling $117 million when fully implemented in FY 2014. These reforms include the elimination of 33 tax credits, the elimination of certain deductions and the elimination of the personal exemption for single filers making over $35,000 and joint filers making over $70,000 (see attached one pager for new details).

The new plan also simplifies the tax code by dropping the total number of tax brackets from seven to three. New rates will be set at 1 percent, 3.3 percent and 4.8 percent.

“This proposal represents a significant income tax cut and an important step forward for Oklahoma,” Fallin said. “Our plan is a responsible proposal that will go hand in hand with a budget that protects and supports all core functions of government. It also delivers a substantial tax cut that will allow Oklahomans to keep more of their hard-earned money while improving the environment for job recruitment and job retention in the state. I applaud both House and Senate leaders for coming together on this issue and giving the people of Oklahoma some well-deserved tax relief.”

House Speaker Kris Steele also spoke in support of the plan.

“Collections through April of this year are now $350 million higher than originally expected,” said Steele. “Oklahoma is growing. We have a choice to either spend all that money on more government, or give it back to the hardworking people of Oklahoma. We choose the latter. An income tax cut is not only the smart thing to do for Oklahoma’s economy, it’s the right thing to do for our citizens.”

Senate Pro Tem Brian Bingman said the tax cut would help small business owners while protecting core government services.

“Today’s tentative agreement gives the people of Oklahoma a real and meaningful tax cut,” said Bingman.  “Senate Republicans have always believed lowering the tax burden is an important part of creating jobs and economic freedom in Oklahoma.  And today, we’ve taken an important step forward that shows the people of Oklahoma they can count on us to keep our word.  This plan will help more of our private sector citizens and small business owners be the innovators, entrepreneurs, and drivers of our state economy—all while protecting important core government services like teaching in the classroom.”

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The left lane of both east and westbound U.S. Highway 64/State Highway 51 will be closed from Utica Avenue to Sheridan Road for a bridge deck replacement project.

Plans call for the highway will be narrowed beginning at 7 p.m. Friday through 6 a.m. Monday. Drivers should expect significant delays when traveling on the BA through mid-town Tulsa.

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They are some of the most well-traveled roads in the state. But they are also some of the most deadly. Now, engineers are already trying to make them safer.

"Honestly, it scares me. I have a lot of elderly clients that drive in on the highway," said Robin Strader, the owner of a pet grooming salon.

Strader's business is near I-240, close to Will Rogers Airport. Nearby business owners have seen so many wrecks recently they say they have lost count.

"It seems to be getting worse," said Tammy Hailey, who works at a nearby hair salon... FULL ARTICLE & WATCH VIDEO

Senate Republicans threw secret talks to lower the state's personal income tax rate in disarray Tuesday by announcing their own plan in a hastily called news conference that caught Republican House leaders and the GOP governor off guard.

The Senate plan calls for reducing the top personal income rate of 5.25 percent a half percent over the next two years. It would lower it to 5 percent next year and 4.75 percent in 2014.

“We're here today to quash any rumors floating around out there about theOklahoma state Senate not supporting income tax cuts,” said Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, who was flanked by Senate Republicans... FULL ARTICLE

Closed-door negotiations to lower the state's personal income tax rate continued Wednesday evening between legislative leaders and the governor's staff.

Several sessions were held throughout the day; talks broke off shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday.

“We're in very intense negotiations,” Rep. Earl Sears, R-Bartlesville, chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee said Wednesday. “After numerous discussions, we will be visiting our caucuses tomorrow to continue the dialogue in developing a personal income tax cut.

“There should be announcements made sometime tomorrow,” Sears said... FULL ARTICLE

The House approved a bill Wednesday that would allow money to be used from an existing 1-cent tax on a gallon of gasoline to pay for three remaining port of entry truck weighing and inspection stations.

House Democrats complained that the money could be used for other purposes and Rep. Jerry McPeak said the new stations, estimated to cost about $11 million each, were too “dadgummed fancy.”

“I'm thinking I might ought to get a cot and go live in one of those rascals because I'm pretty sure it's going to be nicer than my house I live in,” said McPeak, D-Warner.

McPeak said the state should use portable scales to catch truckers driving with overweight loads... FULL ARTICLE

Continued strong sales tax collections are continuing to help fuel Oklahoma's robust economic growth, a state finance official said Tuesday.

“Sales taxes were up almost 8 percent for the month and beat the official estimate by the same percentage,” said Preston Doerflinger, who serves as secretary of finance and revenue on Gov. Mary Fallin's Cabinet.

“This has been one of our strongest areas of growth all year.”

In April, total collections for the state's general revenue fund — minus a supplemental appropriation legislators approved earlier — were $611 million, nearly 6 percent more than a year ago, he said. The general revenue fund is the main funding source for state government operations... FULL ARTICLE

TULSA - Thousands of trucks travel through Oklahoma everyday, but most don't ever get weighed.

That's because the state's existing weigh stations are in shabby conditions, with many shut down -- putting Oklahoma roads at risk.

"Overweight trucks degrade the life expectancy of those roads greatly," said Oklahoma Senator Gary Stanislawski, (R)-Tulsa.

The plan has been to build eight permanent new weigh stations at points of entry . The money comes from a fee wholesales pay on gas, but it only brings in $6 million a year... FULL ARTICLE & WATCH VIDEO

KRMG.com
Posted: 5:12 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, 2012
By Russell Mills

Perhaps the first thing to realize when talking about Oklahoma's turnpikes is there is no such thing as a "free" highway.

Turnpikes in Oklahoma get built through the sale of bonds which get repaid through the collection of tolls.

Since the construction of the state's original toll road, the Turner Turnpike in the early 1950s, Oklahomans have approved extending the date when the toll roads revert to normal highways, paid for by taxes... FULL ARTICLE

Residents saw comes and lights turned on to shut lanes off, even before work began. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation had reasons for that.

"We went and marked the patch areas, then set up the traffic control to get the public accustomed to the traffic control. Now they're starting to saw the underlying concrete," recalled Resident Engineer, Jay Earp.

So the project starts with destruction before any headway on construction begins, but ODOT has several steps they are taking to make the two mile stretch through the heart of town welcoming for visitors and bearable for locals... FULL ARTICLE

BY World's Editorials Writers
Monday, May 14, 2012
5/14/2012 2:48:03 AM

Gov. Fallin is beginning to sound like Mary, Mary, quite contrary with her insistence that the Legislature further slash income tax rates.

For a governor who generally has the best interests of her constituents at heart, this is a decidedly bad idea for obvious reasons. Core services in Oklahoma are starving; classroom sizes are mushrooming and at the same time, the public school workforce is losing more and more personnel through cuts. Health-care needs are great. State infrastructure needs repairs or upgrading. And, the list goes on.

Cutting income taxes to the degree suggested would not have a significant impact on individual taxpayers. It's not like many Oklahomans could pay off their car with the savings. But, collectively a reduction would make a huge, devastating difference in the state's balance sheet. Oklahoma needs that money... FULL ARTICLE

Monday evening, the Creek Turnpike in south Tulsa will become one of the last major highways in the area to become a construction zone. Motorists will also begin to see an increased Oklahoma Highway Patrol presence in the area as the agency enforces a new 55 mph speed limit through the construction zone.

Jack Damrill of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority tells KRMG that the project will widen the highway from two lanes to three lanes in each direction from U.S. 75 east to Memorial Drive.

The project's timetable calls for completion in 300 days, but Damrill says it could take up to a year, depending on weather and other variables.

OTA raised money for the $57 million project through the sale of bonds... FULL ARTICLE

By JARREL WADE World Staff Writer
Published: 5/14/2012  2:23 AM
Last Modified: 5/14/2012  8:02 AM

Summer roadwork is under way and this year will be one of the few times major construction will be done on all four major east and west corridors through Tulsa, transportation officials said.

Five major construction projects, totaling more than $180 million in costs from both Oklahoma Department of Transportation and Oklahoma Turnpike Authority funds, will be in full swing through this summer.

With orange spread across the city, transportation officials are asking drivers to be aware of work zones and avoid them if possible as crews work hard to "address critical needs" and quickly open up the roadways, ODOT spokeswoman Kenna Mitchell said... FULL ARTICLE

When SoonerPoll.com asked 504 likely voters last week whether they would support such a cut, 61 percent said yes.

That support faded quickly, however, when the question was changed to whether they would support a cut if it "meant less money" for social programs, roads and bridges and education.

Of the 305 who said they'd support an income tax cut, 58 percent changed their answer when less money for "state-funded Medicaid and similar programs" was added to the question.

Sixty-four percent changed their minds if a tax cut meant less money for "roads and bridges," and 67 percent backed off if the cut impacted education.

"I have grandkids in elementary school," said Barbara Croft of Disney. "If they don't do something about this budget-cutting and teacher-cutting, my grandkids are going to suffer." FULL ARTICLE

Now is not the time for the Republican-controlled Legislature to wilt in coming up with a significant cut in Oklahoma's personal income tax rate, Gov. Mary Fallin said Thursday.

“Our members in the House and Senate — those who have gone out for years and talked about reducing our income taxes — need to not only talk the talk but walk the walk,” Fallin said. “This is the year.

“We've talked about the need to eliminate our exemptions, our carve outs, our loopholes in the tax code. We know we have revenue growth. We know we're making government smaller and smarter so we're saving taxpayer money. I think there is room to have a tax cut. I'd like to see a significant tax cut that is meaningful to our state.”

Kansas legislators on Wednesday passed a measure that would put their state's top personal income tax lower than Oklahoma's top rate of 5.25 percent. The governor of Kansas, a Republican as is Fallin, is considering signing the measure, which would lower that state's top personal income tax rate from 6.45 percent to 4.9 percent.

“I'm pushing for as much of a decrease in our income taxes as possible,” Fallin said. “That's been one of my big concerns in talking about reducing our income taxes, is that other states around the nation are becoming more competitive by reducing their income tax... FULL ARTICLE

OKLAHOMA CITY - Large majorities of Oklahoma voters oppose state income tax cuts if it means less funding for schools, roads and public safety, a poll released Wednesday by the Oklahoma Advocacy Project shows

The poll also shows voter concern that cutting the income tax will lead to higher sales and property taxes to make up for lost revenue.

The telephone poll of 603 registered voters was conducted May 3-6 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points. It appears to stand in contrast to an April 3-5 Sooner Survey telephone poll of 500 voters that found that by a better than 2-to-1 margin Oklahomans favor cutting the state income tax to 4.75 percent... FULL ARTICLE

While budget negotiators at the state Capitol discuss whether to cut the personal income tax, the author of a study that was the basis for a couple tax-cutting proposals clashed a couple blocks away Wednesday with an economist opposed to lowering the income tax rate.

Legislation based on Arthur Laffer's plan that called for reducing the state's top personal income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 2.25 percent next year has been scrubbed, but a smaller cut still is being studied.

“It won't work as well,” Laffer said during a forum sponsored by The State Chamber at the Oklahoma History Center.

An economist who first gained prominence as a member of formerPresident Ronald Reagan's economic policy advisory board, Laffer said his proposal could put Oklahoma's competitive economy into a top-tier economic policy environment.

Mickey Hepner, business college dean at the University of Central Oklahoma, said Oklahoma's economy is already competitive... FULL ARTICLE

Emergency clauses on approved bills were held hostage several times during the 2011 legislative session. This year the hostage-taking involves a weightier matter: tax cuts.

Last year the hostage takers were conservative Republicans. They may join Democrats in holding bond issues hostage in exchange for deferring tax cuts.

Senate Minority Leader Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, says that increasing debt while cutting revenue is irresponsible: “It is not how the people of Oklahoma run their households, and it is not how we should run the Capitol.”

This strikes us as ironic coming from a member of the political party that's been running up massive debt in Washington. If Oklahomans ran their households like Congress and the White House run the country, we'd all need a bailout... FULL ARTICLE

TAHLEQUAH — State and local police agencies hope you’ll consider the consequences of your actions when you get behind the wheel of a vehicle this summer.

If you get careless, officers are worried that you, a family member, or some innocent stranger could end up in the morgue.

Tuesday marked the official beginning of Cherokee County’s summer safety corridor project. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. George Brown said the county’s highways have some of the highest numbers of crashes throughout the state, and officers want to halt that trend by introducing educational campaigns and no-tolerance enforcement of driving laws.

“The goal of the corridor project is to reduce the number of crashes, and therefore save lives, and not – we want to stress this – not simply to just write tickets,” said Brown. “What we do a lot of times is be reactive to crashes. We get the call, we answer the call and we go work the crash. At that point, a lot of times, it’s too late. What can we do to save lives? Let’s take a proactive approach – that is, create these corridors, get the word out to the public that it’s going to happen, and then enforce traffic laws within those corridors. I think it’s going to save lives, and I’ll tell you that if it saves one life, it was well worth it.” FULL ARTICLE

The acquisition of land of land along Interstate Highway 40 near Roland was completed last year.

Within the last two months ODOT advertised and received bids for utilities at the new site.

“The big things are all ready in agreement,” Cole Hackett, ODOT spokesman, said Monday.

Hackett explained the weigh stations are built as Corporation Commission receives the money. The money is left to accumulate until there is enough to complete the next station... FULL ARTICLE

Steady progress is being made preparing a budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which will take into account a cut in the state's personal income tax rate, Gov. Mary Fallin said Tuesday.

“My goal is to get an income tax cut this year,” she said. “We're still working on the range.”

Fallin, who proposed cutting the top personal income tax rate from 5.25 percent to 3.5 percent, said she still is seeking to get the largest decrease possible. The failure of lawmakers to eliminate or reduce economic tax credits as well as delete personal income tax deductions and exemptions make it unlikely for that steep of a cut to occur in one of the state's largest sources of revenue.

Fallin said she met again Tuesday with House Speaker Kris Steele, R-Shawnee, and Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, about the budget and reducing the personal income tax rate... FULL ARTICLE

BY World's Editorials Writers
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
5/9/2012 3:55:34 AM

Finally, after transportation leaders have pleaded for them for decades, the state is getting some new port-of-entry truck-weighing and -inspection stations.

The state-of-the-art facilities will replace weighing stations that are about as outdated as such a facility could be.

But this isn't a story of complete success. As is often the case in Oklahoma, there will be only enough funds to build five more stations in addition to one that recently opened in Kay County. Three more are needed but will have to await additional funding - if it ever materializes.

According to Oklahoma Department of Transportation Director Gary Ridley, a truck enters the state from Kansas every 35 seconds. Just imagine how many trucks are flowing into the state on the other major arteries feeding into Oklahoma from every direction... FULL ARTICLE

BY BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
5/8/2012 5:46:55 AM

OKLAHOMA CITY - Senate Democrats on Monday said they would not support any proposed bond issues this session as long as there is a push to cut the state income tax.

But to block a bond issue, Senate Democrats would need some Republicans to vote with them. The Senate has 32 Republicans and 16 Democrats, and it takes 25 votes to get a measure passed.

Officials have discussed possible bonds to pay for repairs to the state Capitol, to finish the American Indian Cultural Center in Oklahoma City and Museum and to help fund a pop culture museum in Tulsa.

Senate Minority Leader Sean Burrage, D-Claremore, said increasing debt while cutting revenue is irresponsible.

"It is not how the people of Oklahoma run their households, and it is not how we should run the capitol," he said.

But Burrage said he has had no conversations with his Republican colleagues to see if they would vote with Democrats... FULL ARTICLE

TAHLEQUAH, Okla - Starting Tuesday, Cherokee County law enforcement agencies are joining forces. They're trying to reduce the number of crashes along four Tahlequah area highways that are notorious for deadly collisions.

For the next 30 days, Cherokee County law enforcement agencies will focus on education. They will be writing mostly, warnings to let drivers know about the new enforcement effort. After that, there will be a zero tolerance policy for speeding and other violations in those areas.

Cherokee County has some of the most scenic roadways in the state. Unfortunately, they are also some of the deadliest -- in particular highways 82, 62, 51 and 10. These areas were flagged by ODOT as deadly corridors... FULL ARTICLE & WATCH VIDEO

"Many people don't realize the largest transportation system in the state is the county system," Oklahoma County Commissioner (District 3,) Ray Vaughn said. "We have about 3/4 of the road miles in the system and the state."

The beams from the old Interstate 40 crosstown bridge become new again in county road and bridge projects.

"We had this design already, matter of fact, we redesigned it so we could use the crosstown beams," Vaughn said... FULL ARTICLE & WATCH VIDEO