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Deevers Introduces Tax Cut Elimination Bills, Other Tax Cuts

OKLAHOMA CITY — Sen. Dusty Deevers, R-Elgin, has introduced a slate of legislation to reduce the tax burden on Oklahomans, including the following.

  • SB305 to immediately eliminate the State individual income tax.
  • SB322 to immediately eliminate the State corporate income tax.
  • SB308 to gradually reduce the income tax by 1 percent per year until eliminated by 2029.
  • SB323 to gradually reduce the State corporate income tax by 1 percent per year until eliminated in 2028.
  • SB311 to reduce the gross production tax on the oil and gas industry from 7 percent to 5 percent.
  • Various tax credits for Oklahoma families and family-oriented initiatives, including SB228, SB281, and SB328.

“As Governor Stitt said recently, ‘when we have excess revenue, and Oklahoma certainly does, that means it’s time for tax cuts.’ Rather than using increasing revenue and surpluses to grow government, we need to put money back in the pockets of the people of Oklahoma,” Deevers said.

“Eliminating the State income tax could save the average Oklahoma household $2,000-$3,000 per year. Eliminating Oklahoma’s income tax will empower families, boost local businesses with reinvestable capital, and position the state as a premier destination for talent, innovation, and enterprise, creating a thriving economy driven by growth, opportunity, and long-term prosperity.

Deevers also commented on the feasibility of repealing the income tax and his desire to work with others who have introduced similar bills.

“While there is some disagreement about how to get it done, thankfully, there is a growing consensus that the State income tax needs to be repealed. I have filed four separate bills to do so. My hope is that my colleagues will support SB305 and SB322 to immediately return this money to the people, but I have also filed bills to gradually eliminate the income tax if it becomes clear that that is the only way to achieve majority support. I know that others have introduced legislation to accomplish the same end, and I am happy to consider those efforts. This is not about who gets the credit. This is about giving the people of Oklahoma back their money.”

The Injustice of the Income Tax or ‘Labor Tax’

Deevers also explained the fundamental injustice of the income tax. “Prophetic warnings about the harm of the 16th Amendment have been realized in the ever-expanding bureaucratic apparatus that regulates and consumes increasing portions of national and state resources and freedoms,” Deevers said. “This system disincentivizes productivity and innovation while punishing success. Worse, it fosters a culture of envy, pitting citizens against one another based on income brackets.

“Nowhere does Scripture grant the state authority to claim ownership over the fruits of one’s labor, which belong first to God and then to the individual as a steward. By taxing income, the government declares itself master over and possessor of the labor and property of its citizens, violating their God-given rights to life, liberty, and property.

“Economically, income taxes are a disincentive to growth. When a person’s earnings are forcibly taken, the government not only robs them of their property (their money) but also of the opportunity to reinvest it into productive endeavors. This confiscatory system stifles creativity and rewards inefficiency. Additionally, overlapping federal and state income taxes exacerbate burdens on citizens, creating a double yoke that hinders prosperity and discourages investment.

“The income tax, which could be more appropriately referred to as the ‘labor tax,’ stands as an affront to liberty and justice. A just system would instead adopt limited, consumption-based taxes, ensuring the government operates within its God-ordained boundaries while safeguarding the freedom and prosperity of its citizens by taxing the people as little as possible while still fulfilling its core functions. While some will say cutting taxes is not possible, it is only because such people have not considered the ‘radical’ idea that the government does not need to spend so much money. With a combination of spending cuts and limited consumption taxes, substantial tax cuts are achievable. The income tax must be abolished to restore rightful stewardship, economic vitality, and individual liberty under God.”

-END-

For more information, contact:  Sen. Dusty Deevers at 405-521-5567 or email Dusty.Deevers@oksenate.gov.