Rep. Lance Cargill, R-Harrah
Cargill filed overdue federal and state income tax returns after the Tax Commission warned him in January about missing 2005 and 2006 state returns, The Oklahoman reported earlier. He said then he was due refunds. He also paid property taxes late on his Harrah law office six years in a row. The late fees added up to more than $560.
"I take full responsibility,” he said in January.
Rep. Greg Piatt, R-Ardmore
He was late on 2004 business personal taxes on a snow cone stand. Also, his distributing company was late on 2006 business personal taxes, records show. He said the 2006 taxes were the office manager's responsibility. Late fees totaled $4.97.
"Everyone should pay what they owe,” Piatt said. "Obviously, paying late does happen. That's why there are penalties involved. You pay your stuff and you get it right the next year.”
Rep. Don Armes, R-Faxon
Armes fell behind on both income tax returns and property taxes. He was late on his 2005 and 2006 state and federal returns. He said they are in now and he got refunds. He was late on 2001 taxes on his home and 2002 taxes on a rental house. He said those were bank errors. He also was late on 2007 taxes on a house in Lawton he was renovating for sale. He paid Jan. 28, records show. Late fees totaled almost $100.
"The project took longer than expected,” he said of the fix-up house. "Once I realized that this redo house was not current, I paid those immediately, in full.”
Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City
Morrissette was late four years in a row on property taxes for a rental home, The Oklahoman reported Feb. 1. Morrissette paid $271.01 in penalties and interest.
"It was an oversight,” he said in January.
Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City
Key was hit in 2006 with a tax warrant alleging he owed the state $1,525 in unpaid 2004 income taxes, penalties and interest. A Tax Commission spokeswoman said Key made a partial payment but still owes more than $1,000.
Key also was late eight years in a row on the property taxes on his home. His tardiness cost him $356.17 in penalties and interest.
"There were some mistakes made,” Key said of the tax warrant. "I take full responsibility for it. ... We got it worked out. ... It was a disagreement over how much was owed. ... There's nothing I can say to make it look good. ... I try to pay my taxes like everybody else but I'm a middle income earner and it's difficult sometimes to pay your taxes and pay all the expenses that you have.”
Rep. Randy McDaniel, R-Edmond
McDaniel fell 13 months behind on 2006 property taxes on his rental properties even though he is a longtime financial adviser.
He said he had new life priorities — a marriage, a move and a new baby — and never got a tax bill. He paid the Oklahoma County Treasurer on Feb. 4 to catch up on the late 2006 and late 2007 property taxes. He also was late on some 2001, 2003 and 2004 property taxes. Late fees totaled almost $1,900.
"I'm very proud of my history of always paying everything on time and in full in every endeavor, which probably would be reflected in a consumer credit report,” he said last week. "I do know if I was ever late for any payment of any kind, whether it be a credit card payment, a phone bill or in this case, it was definitely unintentional.”
Rep. Terry Harrison, D-McAlester
He is taxed on his home, a steak house, a law office and rental houses. Some payments were late on 2004, 2005 and 2006 taxes. Late fees were about $430.
The steak house also was late in paying $778.96 in sales taxes, a tax warrant shows. Late fees on the sales taxes were $586.70.
"I have people who write checks for me,” Harrison said. "Literally. I never write any of my checks. I have employees that do. And if one of my employees was remiss in paying something on time, certainly it's my responsibility and my fault. I can't blame anyone else. ... I should have been a better supervisor.”
Rep. Phil Richardson, R-Minco
Richardson said he owns a Caddo County hog farm that has almost $2,700 in overdue real estate taxes. He said the company leasing the farm is supposed to pay.
He was late on 2004 and 2006 property taxes on his home and other land in Grady County. He paid the first half on time but missed the deadline for paying the second half. Late fees were $15.28.
"It's pretty easy to forget the second time because you pay the first-half taxes and they don't send you a statement. Sometimes it's been confusing on when that is due,” he said last week. "Basically, this past year, I just paid it all at once.”
Rep. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa
The Tax Commission warned Shumate in January about missing 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2006 state income tax returns. He said last week he has caught up on those state returns and overdue federal tax returns, too. He said, overall, he got refunds. He plans to send in his 2007 returns today — two days early.
"You get to moving fast,” Shumate said. "I didn't check back with my tax man to make sure certain things were done. There were some years I filed extensions and I didn't follow up. I've gone throughout my district to apologize. It was a huge oversight on my part.”
Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa
McIntyre was late in paying her 2004, 2005 and 2007 property taxes on her home. Late fees totaled $21.37.
McIntyre paid her 2007 bill after a Tulsa newspaper reporter contacted her Jan. 31.
McIntyre said before then she had scolded Shumate for not filing his tax returns.
"I just chewed him out,” McIntyre said of Shumate. "And I'll be durned if I didn't get a call, too, about my property tax. ... I could have sworn last year that I paid those. I was truly shocked. Although it sounded, you know: ‘Yeah, right, here's another lying politician.' I thought I had paid it.
... We're public officials, and I have no excuse. ... It should have been done. It wasn't done. But it won't happen again. Now, that, I do know. I was on the school board in Tulsa for 16 years, starting in 1981. So I do know the value of property taxes. Definitely.”
Rep. Dennis Johnson, R-Duncan
He is taxed on his home, rental properties and business. He was late on some payments in six of the last seven years. Late fees totaled more than $340.
"One person might argue that it's neglect, and I guess, after a fashion, it is. I don't think it's entirely unusual,” he said last week. "I will admit that I've been late from time to time. It's not something I deliberately did. ... It's a difficult thing to keep track of. I'm active in my church, and I'm active in a gospel group, and I'm active in my business and I'm active in politics. ... You've got a lot of things on your plate at any given time.”
Sen. Charlie Laster, D-Shawnee
He was late four years in a row in paying real estate taxes on his home. Late fees totaled $132.94. He said he tried to pay his 2007 tax bill on time, New Year's Eve, but the courthouse was closed.
"I didn't consider it a big deal, but then there has been a lot of notoriety brought to it since then, so I'm certainly going to be more careful about it now,” Laster said last week.
Rep. Ryan McMullen, D-Burns Flat
He filed overdue 2006 federal and state income tax returns shortly after getting a Tax Commission warning in January. He said he got back more than $2,000 in refunds. He said he filed his 2007 tax returns months early.
"I've never been so on top of that in my life,” McMullen said last week.
Rep. Jerry McPeak, D-Warner
He's missed one tax deadline since elected four years ago, paying 2004 real estate taxes late. He also was late on 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2003 real estate taxes as well as some personal property taxes. Late fees were $75.58.
"I just overlooked it,” he said last week. "I've never been in politics before. So, honest to gosh, I never worried about it before.”
Sen. Jeff Rabon, D-Hugo
He paid 2003 and 2004 property taxes late on his then-home. Late fees were $87.29. He owes $82.08, plus a $3.70 penalty, on the 2007 property taxes on his new home, records show. Taxes were due Jan. 31.
He said the treasurer sent the 2003 tax bill to the previous homeowner. He said his mortgage company made a mistake on his 2007 payment. He had no explanation for the late 2004 payment.
"I'm an imperfect human. I make mistakes,” Rabon said last week.
Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City
He was late a few weeks on his 2001 property taxes on a lot in Moore and his 2006 property taxes on his Oklahoma City home. His late fees were $32.63.
"One year, I paid ... a day late or something,” Reynolds said. "The other one, it's simply I missed it last year.”
Rep. Gus Blackwell, R-Goodwell
He was late in paying property taxes on his home 13 years in a row and on rental houses some years, The Oklahoman reported Feb. 1. His explanation was he was mistaken about when property taxes were due.
"I'm not blaming anyone but myself,” Blackwell said in January.
Sen. Connie Johnson, D-Oklahoma City
Johnson missed deadlines to file her 2004, 2005 and 2006 state tax returns, records show. In January, she blamed a 2002 divorce and said she was behind on federal returns, too. She has caught up on the state returns, The Oklahoman was told.
About one in nine state legislators repeatedly missed tax deadlines, an investigation by The Oklahoman found
They paid property taxes late and failed to file income tax returns on time or both.
The next tax deadline looms. Income tax returns are due Tuesday.
The Legislature was thrown into upheaval this year when Rep. Lance Cargill stepped down as House speaker because of a public outcry over his tax problems. That same week, Rep. Gus Blackwell dropped out of the race to take over as speaker because of late property taxes.
The Oklahoman checked all 149 legislators' taxes because of the public concern. “What a bunch of baloney. ... Our elected officials need to set a better example,” one person wrote.
What the check found
Fifteen legislators repeatedly were late in paying their property taxes, which mostly go to fund schools. Others missed property tax deadlines just once in recent years. Some paid hundreds of dollars in late fees.
A few legislators fell more than a year behind on property taxes. One was Rep. Randy McDaniel, who has a second job as a financial adviser. “I take full responsibility. This is a sad day for me,” McDaniel said. “At some point you've got to say, these are human beings. This is one of many things you're trying to make sure you are 100 percent perfect on.”
Legislators often blamed themselves for their tax troubles. Other excuses: bank errors, employee mistakes, divorce and never-received tax bills. “I knew it wasn't going to break the United States or Oklahoma. I didn't get all torqued about it,” said Rep. Jerry McPeak of his late taxes.
The late bills included taxes on homes, rental houses and businesses.
Five legislators who had overdue income tax returns have caught up. “There really is no excuse. ... I can tell you this. It won't ever happen again,” Rep. Jabar Shumate said.
Legislation dealing with a wide range of specialty license tags was approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives today.
House Bill 3353, by state Rep. Randy Terrill, creates and
modifies several state specialty car tags. The provisions of the bill were created by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.
"For efficiency reasons, we took several individual specialty tag bills and rolled them into one measure," said Terrill, a Moore Republican who chairs the House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee.
"After an exhaustive examination, we felt these were
the best proposals submitted this year and worthy of
further consideration. I appreciate the hard work and
cooperation of all the legislators involved."
The legislation creates several new specialty tags,
including the Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation
Enduring Freedom Veteran License Plates that would
be available to any honorably discharged or current
member of the United States Armed Forces who served
in those conflicts.
That provision was authored by state Reps. Randy
McDaniel (R-Edmond), John Auffet (D-Stilwell) and
Wallace Collins (a Norman Democrat whose district
includes the Veterans Center).
"We should support and encourage all the brave young
men and women who make great sacrifices to serve
our country overseas during a time of war," McDaniel
said.
"All American soldiers who put themselves in harm's
way deserve recognition for their sacrifice and service."
McDaniel, who served in the Oklahoma Army National
Guard for 11 years, noted the state already issues
special military tags for veterans of other wars.
House Bill 3353 also creates the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation License Plate. The bill requires
that $20 of the $35 generated from license fees for
each diabetes plate be deposited in the Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation License Plate
Revolving Fund to pay for treatment research efforts.
State Rep. Lucky Lamons, a Tulsa Democrat and
former police officer, is author of the diabetes plate
provision as well as language creating a Tulsa Police
Department Memorial License Plate. The bill requires
that $20 of the tag fee for the police plate be deposited
in the Tulsa Police Department Memorial License Plate
Revolving Fund.
A provision authored by state Rep. Eric Proctor would
create In God We Trust License Plates that will be
designed in consultation with the Oklahoma Family
Policy Council.
"Our nation was founded on the principles of
religious freedom and this plate will give
Oklahomans the opportunity to acknowledge
the historical foundations of our country,"
said Proctor, D-Tulsa.
A provision authored by Terrill will create a
Department of Corrections License Plate that
earmarks $20 from each plate fee for the
Oklahoma Correctional Employees Memorial
Foundation.
"Our corrections employees endure a harsh and often
dangerous work environment for relatively little pay,"
Terrill said. "It is appropriate that the state create a
funding mechanism to memorialize DOC employees
who have been injured or killed in the line of duty."
State Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, authored a
provision creating an Armed Forces Veterans
Motorcycle License Plate. The plates will be issued
to any current member or honorably discharged
member of the United States Armed Forces.
Duncan is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National
Guard and Battalion Commander of the 2/189th
Regiment, a Regional Training Institute in Oklahoma
City.
In addition to creating new license plates, House Bill
3353 also amends law affecting several existing specialty plates.
For example, the bill abolishes the Northern Cherokee
Nation of the Old Louisiana Territory License Plate.
"The Northern Cherokee Nation plate was creating a
lot of confusion because its design is similar to
legitimate tribal tags and because there is no official
federally recognized tribe by that name," said state
Rep. Ben Sherrer, D-Pryor Creek. "It was time to get
rid of it."
The bill also restricts the issuance of Civil Emergency
Management License Plates to only individuals
providing proof of their involvement in the state civil
emergency management system.
"There have been cases in recent years where people
have impersonated emergency responders at the scene
of a tragedy," said state Rep. Ken Luttrell, a Ponca City
Democrat who authored that provision.
"That's unacceptable and we hope to reduce that
activity by ensuring only true emergency responders
can obtain one of these specialty plates."
House Bill 3353 also expands the issuance of Gold
Star License Plates to include the spouses of members
of the United States Armed Forces killed during a war.
State Rep. George Faught, a Muskogee Republican who
authored that provision, noted that the Gold Star plate
is currently issued only to parents of a soldier killed in
action.
Another provision authored by state Rep. Jerry
Shoemake, D-Morris, would allow university police
officers to obtain Police Officer License Plates.
House Bill 3353 passed the Oklahoma House of
Representatives today and now proceeds to the state
Senate.
Oklahoma State Senate:
Senate Honors
President Reagan
The resolution reads that Ronald Reagan was “a man of humble background, and worked throughout his life serving freedom and advancing the public good.” In addition, “Reagan served with honor and distinction for two terms as the fortieth President of the United States of America, the second of which earned him the confidence of three-fifths of the electorate and victory in forty-nine of the fifty states in the general election—a record unsurpassed in the history of American presidential elections.”
“Ronald Reagan was a visionary leader who loved his country and helped spread freedom around the globe. He was one of our nation’s greatest presidents, and it is an honor to help recognize his achievements by designating ‘Ronald Reagan Day’ in Oklahoma,” Coffee said.
Reagan rose as a strong leader for this nation, inheriting at his inauguration “a disillusioned nation shackled by rampant inflation and high unemployment.” The resolution also cites that during his presidency, Reagan “worked in a bipartisan fashion to enact his bold agenda of restoring accountability and common sense to government, which led to an unprecedented economic expansion and opportunity for millions of Americans.”
Senate Concurrent Resolution 48 commends President Reagan’s “vision of ‘peace through strength’ [that] led to the end of the Cold War and the ultimate demise of the Soviet Union, guaranteeing basic human rights for millions of people.”
Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City along with Representative Randy McDaniel of the House authored SCR 48 that created “Ronald Reagan Day.”
"War on Terror" Vets May Have Special License Plates
State Rep. Randy McDaniel and state Sen. Todd Lamb filed House Bill 2666, which would create a special car tag for veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
McDaniel served in the Oklahoma Army National Guard for 11 years, reaching the rank of Captain.
"We should support and encourage all the brave young men and women who make great sacrifices to serve our country overseas during the time of war. We want to give our Iraqi and Afghan War veterans the same opportunities to display their pride as veterans of other wars," said McDaniel, R-Edmond.
Lamb said Oklahomans should take every opportunity to honor the men and women who put their lives on the line in the war on terror. Lamb said his father, state Secretary of Veterans Affairs Norman Lamb, taught him the importance of service to country as well as the importance of honoring the veterans who answered that call.
"Oklahomans have always served valiantly in times of war, and that has certainly been the case during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom," said Lamb, R-Edmond, who was an agent with the U.S. Secret Service prior to being elected to the Senate. "Having tags that honor their service is not only a way for our state to pay tribute to these men and women, it's also a way to help show people in Oklahoma and throughout the nation how dedicated our citizens are to protecting the freedoms that define America."
Currently, there are already special military tags for veterans of previous wars but there are none for the veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
"The United States armed forces has a rich and proud history. All American soldiers that put themselves in harm's way deserve recognitions for their sacrifices and service," said McDaniel.
Cargill filed overdue federal and state income tax returns after the Tax Commission warned him in January about missing 2005 and 2006 state returns, The Oklahoman reported earlier. He said then he was due refunds. He also paid property taxes late on his Harrah law office six years in a row. The late fees added up to more than $560.
He was late on 2004 business personal taxes on a snow cone stand. Also, his distributing company was late on 2006 business personal taxes, records show. He said the 2006 taxes were the office manager's responsibility. Late fees totaled $4.97.
Armes fell behind on both income tax returns and property taxes. He was late on his 2005 and 2006 state and federal returns. He said they are in now and he got refunds. He was late on 2001 taxes on his home and 2002 taxes on a rental house. He said those were bank errors. He also was late on 2007 taxes on a house in Lawton he was renovating for sale. He paid Jan. 28, records show. Late fees totaled almost $100.
Morrissette was late four years in a row on property taxes for a rental home, The Oklahoman reported Feb. 1. Morrissette paid $271.01 in penalties and interest.
Key was hit in 2006 with a tax warrant alleging he owed the state $1,525 in unpaid 2004 income taxes, penalties and interest. A Tax Commission spokeswoman said Key made a partial payment but still owes more than $1,000.
McDaniel fell 13 months behind on 2006 property taxes on his rental properties even though he is a longtime financial adviser.
He is taxed on his home, a steak house, a law office and rental houses. Some payments were late on 2004, 2005 and 2006 taxes. Late fees were about $430.
Richardson said he owns a Caddo County hog farm that has almost $2,700 in overdue real estate taxes. He said the company leasing the farm is supposed to pay.
The Tax Commission warned Shumate in January about missing 1999, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2006 state income tax returns. He said last week he has caught up on those state returns and overdue federal tax returns, too. He said, overall, he got refunds. He plans to send in his 2007 returns today — two days early.
McIntyre was late in paying her 2004, 2005 and 2007 property taxes on her home. Late fees totaled $21.37.
He is taxed on his home, rental properties and business. He was late on some payments in six of the last seven years. Late fees totaled more than $340.
He was late four years in a row in paying real estate taxes on his home. Late fees totaled $132.94. He said he tried to pay his 2007 tax bill on time, New Year's Eve, but the courthouse was closed.
He filed overdue 2006 federal and state income tax returns shortly after getting a Tax Commission warning in January. He said he got back more than $2,000 in refunds. He said he filed his 2007 tax returns months early.
He's missed one tax deadline since elected four years ago, paying 2004 real estate taxes late. He also was late on 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2003 real estate taxes as well as some personal property taxes. Late fees were $75.58.
He paid 2003 and 2004 property taxes late on his then-home. Late fees were $87.29. He owes $82.08, plus a $3.70 penalty, on the 2007 property taxes on his new home, records show. Taxes were due Jan. 31.
He was late a few weeks on his 2001 property taxes on a lot in Moore and his 2006 property taxes on his Oklahoma City home. His late fees were $32.63.
He was late in paying property taxes on his home 13 years in a row and on rental houses some years, The Oklahoman reported Feb. 1. His explanation was he was mistaken about when property taxes were due.
Johnson missed deadlines to file her 2004, 2005 and 2006 state tax returns, records show. In January, she blamed a 2002 divorce and said she was behind on federal returns, too. She has caught up on the state returns, The Oklahoman was told.
