Teacher pay raise, cigarette tax increase stay alive in House committee

OKLAHOMA CITY — House Republicans apparently aren’t giving up on teacher pay raises or a cigarette tax increase this session, despite repeated setbacks.

Two teacher pay bills, a single $1,000 bump and the “1-2-3” plan introduced at the start of the session, and a measure to reapportion cigarette taxes if an increase is adopted were heard late Wednesday in a key House committee.

All three measures passed.

“In a budget of $6 billion, I think we can prioritize a teacher pay raise,” said Rep. Michael Rogers, R-Broken Arrow, who is carrying both teacher pay bills.

The two measures, House Bills 2416 and 2417, are almost identical to Rogers bills that have run aground in the legislative process.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/teacher-pay-raise-cigarette-tax-increase-stay-alive-in-house/article_944f8547-ddeb-541a-8a0f-2db426ef0617.html