House Misses Chance to Eliminate Sales Tax on Groceries

House Democrats procedurally killed an amendment today that would have eliminated the state sales tax on groceries in Oklahoma.

State Rep. Randy Terrill, author of an omnibus tax cut bill that passed today, attempted to suspend the rules to file an amendment to his bill that would have ended state sales tax on groceries. A suspension of rules takes a two-thirds vote of the House.

But, the suspension failed because 42 House
Democrats either voted against or failed to
vote to add the amendment to the bill.

"Their unwillingness to suspend the rules came as a shock and surprise to me given that they have previously voiced support for the removal of the sales tax on groceries," said Terrill, R-Moore. "Refusing
to allow the rules suspension for the purpose of attaching an amendment
to do just that is hypocritical to say the least. What I find particularly surprising is that Rep. Richard Morrissette, who earlier in the day proclaimed his support for the sales tax elimination, refused to vote though he was physically present in the House chamber, even after being reminded that failure to vote is a direct violation of Hous rules."

House Democrats also killed the emergency on the bill, which means the back-to-school sales tax expansion will not go into effect for the school year this fall.

"Apparently House Democrats want to see Oklahoma parents paying state sales tax on school supplies for at least another year," said Terrill.