Attorney general strongly sides with group hoping to repeal tax hikes

The referendum petition being circulated to repeal taxes passed by the Legislature is valid, and a protest filed by the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators should be rejected, the Oklahoma attorney general's office argued Friday to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

In written arguments, Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter's office said the state Constitution has always afforded broad protection to the right of citizens to seek a referendum on legislation. That right was strengthened when voters approved State Question 640 and barred the Legislature from attaching an emergency enactment clause to bills that raise taxes.

The state Supreme Court should "zealously guard the right of referendum" and deny the protest filed by the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators, Hunter's office argued.

The high court asked the attorney general's office for its opinion on the protest filed by the Association of Professional Oklahoma Educators and on a separate protest filed by the Oklahoma Education Association and other education groups.

Read more: https://newsok.com/article/5596017/attorney-general-strongly-sides-with-group-hoping-to-repeal-tax-hikes