Former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn slams state leaders, says he'll 'work as hard as I can' to overturn fund

Former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn slams state leaders, says he'll 'work as hard as I can' to overturn funding measure for teachers, state employee raises

Former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn said Wednesday that he will “work as hard as I can” to overturn a $400 million revenue bill lawmakers say is necessary to pay for raises for teachers, school support personnel and state employees.

Speaking to the Rotary Club of Tulsa, Coburn said he supports more money for teachers and instruction but said it should be found in existing revenue and by eliminating tax credits for wind energy.

As it turned out, Coburn said this just hours before the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted to terminate the last major tax preference available to wind, an 85 cents-on-the-dollar refund of existing income tax credits for generation.

“I think there’s been a great shift away, in our politics in Oklahoma, from what Oklahoma stands for, and it really disturbs me,” Coburn said.

Read more: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/government/former-u-s-sen-tom-coburn-slams-state-leaders-says/article_5a2fbf19-bf71-54aa-9004-62e04f3c66a1.html