Health Care

Statement from Jonathan Small on Cigarette Tax and Medicaid Expansion

May 18, 2016

Statement from Jonathan Small on Cigarette Tax and Medicaid Expansion

Yesterday, House Democrat leader Scott Inman stated clearly and plainly that his caucus would be willing to vote for a 145% tax increase on thousands of Oklahomans, as long as Republicans would agree to pass Obamacare's Medicaid expansion. Thankfully, many Republican legislators have stated they will not accept that offer because they know the Obamacare expansion will burden Oklahoma taxpayers excessively, as it has in other states where it's been tried.

There are clearly better options available for stabilizing Medicaid provider rates, as well as providing a $5,000 across-the-board salary increase for Oklahoma classroom teachers, without raising taxes on Oklahoma families. At a time when more than 20,000 Oklahomans have lost their jobs because of falling oil prices, raising taxes is not the answer. There's a better path for state lawmakers and for our state as a whole.

For example, it's unconscionable that Oklahoma taxpayers are being asked to pay more in taxes while the state of Oklahoma continues to be on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars to out-of-state and foreign wind companies that are getting billions from the feds already.

Lawmakers should consider, in a time when many Oklahoma families are being forced to tighten their belts, whether it's of higher priority to continue subsidies for wind energy generation, or to give teachers a pay raise and stabilize Medicaid provider rates.

Below is a list of recommendations on how to stabilize Oklahoma’s health care without expanding Medicaid: