Budget & Tax

OCPA comment on compact ruling

July 28, 2020

Staff

Contact: Sheridan Betts

Phone: 405-724-2464

OCPA comment on compact ruling

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 28, 2020)— Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, issued the following statement today in response to a judge’s declaration that a little-known, unelected state agency triggered auto-renewal of casino gaming compacts for another 15 years.

“The judge’s ruling demonstrates what a horrible deal previous Oklahoma politicians schemed about 15 years ago with casino operators in Oklahoma.

“As things stand now, a working family in Oklahoma will pay a significantly higher state-local sales tax rate on the purchase of groceries than what the operators of the world’s largest casino share in fees on slot machine revenue. The extremely low rates imposed on casino gambling are indirectly responsible for the levying of far higher tax rates on Oklahoma’s working families to fund state government.

“Oklahoma is at a crossroads. Within in a month two federal courts have issued rulings that allow two sets of rules for Oklahomans, depending on their race and where they live. Oklahoma cannot survive if one group of citizens has to follow a different set of rules than other Oklahomans, especially as it relates to taxation, regulation, public safety, the environment, the economy and commerce.”

The Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs is a free-market think tank that works to advance principles and policies that support free enterprise, limited government, and individual initiative.

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