GOP confronts another failed tax experiment in Oklahoma

[TexasTowelie]

OKLAHOMA CITY — When the GOP took full control of Oklahoma government after the 2010 election, lawmakers set out to make it a model of Republican principles, with lower taxes, lighter regulation and a raft of business-friendly reforms.

Conservatives passed all of it, setting in motion a grand experiment. Now it’s time for another big election, but instead of campaigning on eight years of achievements, Republicans are confronting chaos and crisis. Agency budgets that were cut during the Great Recession have been slashed even deeper. Rural hospitals are closing, and teachers are considering a statewide strike over low wages.

“I’m not scared to say it, because I love Oklahoma, and we are dying,” said Republican state Rep. Leslie Osborn. “I truly believe the situation is dire.”

Oklahoma’s woes offer the ultimate cautionary tale for other states considering trickle-down economic reforms. The outlook is so grim that some Republicans are willing to consider the ultimate heresy: raising taxes to fund education and health care, an idea that was once the exclusive province of Democrats.

Read more: http://www.swtimes.com/news/20180316/gop-confronts-another-failed-tax-experiment-in-oklahoma

[PJMcK]

1. Kansas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin, etc.

The Republican "experiments" fail yet conservative voters learn nothing.

Idiots.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. They won't learn...and not even willing to either...it's my way or the highway...

Why are these guys / gals (repugs) so against listening and/or cooperating w/ anyone else besides themselves? For some reason, they believe in this mantra of basically no taxes, no regulations, and only for the businesses in the state, any state-derived benefits, such as less regulations, lower fees, etc.

Regulations were put in place to protect the public, and at one time, there were no regulations, hence the need for regulations came about in an environment that had few or no regulations, hence the need for them, when too many companies abused the system, causing the rest of us to pay for those who didn't heed the regulations. Perhaps the better solution is to strictly enforce the regulations already on the books? Too many times businesses have been caught w/ their hands in the cookie jar or doing something else illegally, and then merely slapped on the wrists by the enforcement agencies.

Taxes need to be paid at a minimum level to support the sheer amount of infrastructure that exist now just about everywhere. What does the gop think, that a genie is going to magically repair the state's roads, and so forth? Teachers are leaving (I don't blame them, I would leave too, since these guys are nickel and diming them to death, as well as little pay increases, pushing more costs onto the teachers etc.).

None of these gop persons obviously has even taken an economics class. None has taken teaching either (or the vast majority didn't, otherwise they would know what it takes to teach, and maintain that teaching certificate/degree year to year.

I'm sick of these words 'tickle down' economics. I'd prefer 'piss on me economics'...for this is exactly what it is.

[3Hotdogs]

3. I believe it is Oklahoma where state police are directed to drive under 100 miles per day

unless it is in pursuit.