While the state legislature struggles over a budget fix bill, one including a proposed 6-cent-a-gallon jump in the motor fuels tax, a new poll shows most Oklahomans don’t want it.
The Sooner Poll by News 9 and News on 6 found 52.7 percent are opposed to the plan and 44.7 percent of them are “strongly opposed” to it.
“As expected, Republicans were the most opposed to the proposed gas tax increase at 55.2 percent, however 50.1 percent of Democrats also opposed the increase and 44.3 percent of Democrats were strongly opposed,” wrote pollster Bill Shapard.
The poll also showed that groups against any tax increases see the budget problem as an opportunity to reduce the size of government.
“Oklahomans are frustrated by politicians who campaign as fiscal conservatives, only to watch the legislature continue to let the clock tick while combing through our wallets to solve a problem they created rather than exploring ways to trim spending,” John Tidwell, State Director of Americans for Prosperity told the Sooner Poll.