The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that upheld the constitutionality o the removal of a sales tax exemption on new cars brought an obvious sigh of relief from Gov. Mary Fallin and legislative leaders. But it also brought a broadside filed by one politician against Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb who is running for governor.
Gary Richardson, a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor said he was disappointed in the 5-4 decision and laid the responsibility of the tax increase on Lamb “for not doing his job as the President of the State Senate.”
“I’m surprised that our State Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote can look at a law which brings millions more into the state coffers and say it doesn’t increase revenue,” said Richardson. “But what shouldn’t be lost with today’s decision is that our Lt. Governor, Todd Lamb, could have stopped this tax from becoming law in the first place.”
Richardson then explained how the Oklahoma Lt. Governor is the one constitutionally in charge of the State Senate. “According to Article 5, Section 28 of the State Constitution, the Lt. Governor is the one who presides over the State Senate,” said Richardson. “Lamb could have taken the gavel of the State Senate and refused to let any of the tax bills be heard.”
Richardson said Mary Fallin did the same thing in 2000 when she was Lt. Governor to push through Right to Work legislation.
“Now, because of the failure of our Lt. Governor to execute his constitutional duties and the State Supreme Court effectively gutting State Question 640 that was passed by an overwhelming majority of Oklahomans in 1992, the Oklahoma Legislature now has over $10 billion in tax exemptions that they can eliminate without a vote of the people, all in violation of the people’s intent when they passed State Question 640,” said Richardson.
The former US Attorney said he believes he is the man to be the next Governor.