Opportunities to Make a Difference
March 26th, 2010
Hello again, everyone! I am fond of saying about the State Capitol, “There is more than one way to skin a cat in this building.” This week, a couple of chances “to skin a cat” moved bills in the right direction.
A few years ago, I passed a bill providing a sales tax exemption for disabled veterans with a 100 percent service-connected disability. These individuals gave almost “that last full measure of devotion.” Unfortunately, some retailers refused to honor the exemption.
Then we imposed a $500 fine on vendors refusing to honor the exemption. As a result, more retailers followed the law.
Sadly, a very few retailers still refuse to honor our veterans by honoring the law. Earlier this session, the Senate passed legislation to make the fine a misdemeanor criminal offense.
Since that bill went to the House, several veterans across the state have reported one retailer – a national chain – routinely and systematically denies the exemption. The Oklahoma Tax Commission confirmed that was the case.
Unfortunately, letters sent by the Tax Commission to enforce the law are confidential. Oklahomans cannot find out which retailer makes it a practice to dishonor disabled veterans.
That is where the chance to “skin a cat” comes in. Tuesday, in the Senate Finance Committee, I successfully amended a bill to make the fine a misdemeanor and specify which employees of the retailer could be charged.
Most importantly, the amendment also would make public all communications from the Tax Commission to retailers not following the law. That way, every veteran – every Oklahoman – can know the retailers turning their backs on our veterans, whose sacrifices secured our freedom.
Another opportunity to “skin a cat” came Wednesday in the Appropriations Committee. A bill was proposed that would amend the law I wrote allowing the death penalty for repeat child molesters.
Because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling two years ago, some believed we needed to narrow Oklahoma’s law. Under my law, the ultimate penalty was available if the victim was under the age of 14; the bill before the Senate would make penalty apply only if the child was under the age of six.
The version of House Bill 2695 that passed the House and was sent to the Senate would have potentially weakened our death penalty law for repeat child molesters. The Supreme Court order on a Louisiana law would affect the new proposal no more it would the original law I passed in 2006. So, there is no need to water-down our original death penalty law.
I proposed restoring three words in a 26-page bill; doing so, I was able to protect our existing death penalty law for child molesters. The amended bill provides a double-layer of protection for our children and gives prosecutors greater ability to punish those who prey on our most vulnerable and innocent.
Thanks for reading this week’s “Senate Minute.” Have a great week, and may God bless you all.