Sign-On Letter: Halt the Tax Cut
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Dear Governor Mary Fallin, Speaker Jeff Hickman, and President Pro Tem Brian Bingman:
As leaders of businesses, organizations, and foundations that are deeply committed to the future of Oklahoma, we are writing you out of an urgent sense of concern about our state’s budget situation.
Poor state fiscal policy choices are undoing much of the hard work being done to support and improve education, health care, social services and other critical areas by the philanthropic sector, businesses, Native nations, non-profits, and the faith community. We believe in investing in these goals, but we cannot be expected to fund the core responsibilities of state government.
Many years of repeated cuts and flat funding have left essential public services in critical condition. We already have too many teacher vacancies and overcrowded classrooms; too many severely understaffed prisons and juvenile facilities; too many individuals on waiting lists for mental health and substance abuse services and home- and community-based waivers. We firmly believe that deeper cuts will cause lasting damage to our state’s health, security, and prosperity.
We understand that the large budget shortfall creates especially difficult choices. In these circumstances, moving ahead with the income tax cut that was decided last year simply cannot be justified. The Legislature passed the tax cut bill on the clear understanding that it would be triggered only if revenues were growing; now we know that revenues are falling, yet the tax cut is still slated to kick in next January unless the Legislature intervenes to stop it.
If allowed to proceed, the tax cut adds $50 million to this year’s deficit and $150 million next year, when the budget situation is unlikely to be any less challenging. We are convinced that most Oklahomans would much rather pay teachers a competitive salary, avert another rate cut to health care providers, and keep open state parks, museums, and libraries than receive a minimal tax cut.
In addition to at least postponing the tax cut until our budget situation improves, other revenue options that would help avert immediate cuts and improve the state’s longer-term budget outlook should be considered.
We call on you to take the responsible course by halting the scheduled tax cut and developing a sustainable plan to fund Oklahoma’s critical public services.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Organizational Signatories (Updated 5/11/15)
- AB Surveying, PLLC (Chris Fairchild, CEO), Warr Acres
- AFT-Oklahoma (Mary Best, President), Oklahoma City
- Antique Garden (Dennis and Barbara Fite, Owners), Norman
- Areawide Aging Agency, Inc. (Don Hudman, Executive Director), Oklahoma City
- Barlow Education Management Services, LLC (Lou Barlow, Managing Member), Oklahoma City
- Ed Berrong Insurance Agency, Inc. (Jeff Berrong, Vice-President), Weatherford
- The Blancett Group, Inc. (Meloyde Blancett, Principal), Jenks
- Blue Starr Kiddie Ranch, Inc. (Thomas R. Anderson, President), Claremore
- Bodean, Inc. (Taurus Faulkner, Owner), Tulsa
- BOK Financial (Steven G. Bradshaw, President & CEO), Tulsa
- Broadway Kids of Moore and Kids R Us of Tecumseh (Angela Clayton, Owner), Moore
- Byrne Pottery (Kevin Byrne, Owner), Tulsa
- Cason Communications (Cindy Cason, Owner), Norman
- Cave Spring Schools (Dr. Geary Brown, Superintendent), Bunch
- Central State Community Services (Lara Morrison, Executive Director), Tulsa
- Corporate Golf and Gift (Mary Kirtley, President), Oklahoma City
- CSN Financial (Kristyn Ramsey, Billing Manager), Tulsa
- Davis, Tuttle Venture Partners (Barry M. Davis, Managing Partner), Tulsa
- Daybreak Family Services (C. Conley Tunnell, President/CEO), Tulsa
- DJK Enterprises, Inc. (Jean Hayes), Ada
- DREAM Act Oklahoma – Tulsa (Ivan Godinez, Co-Affiliate Lead), Tulsa
- Drummond Ranch (Ford Drummond, Owner), Pawhuska
- Edmondson Law Office (W.A. Drew Edmondson, Attorney), Oklahoma City
- Fellowship Congregational UCC Church (Rev. Chris Moore, Minister), Tulsa
- Garvin County Community Living Center, Inc. (Cathy Cash, CEO), Paul’s Valley
- Gatesway Foundation, Inc. (Judith K. Myers, CEO), Tulsa
- George Kaiser Family Foundation (Ken Levit, Executive Director), Tulsa
- Goodwill Industries of Tulsa, Inc. (Gail, J Ball, Director, East Campus), Tulsa
- Hille Foundation (Mary Ann Hille, President), Tulsa
- Holy Mountain Music & Oddities (Stephanie Rush, Owner/Operator), Tulsa
- Home of Hope (Webb Aaron Brown, Program Director), Vinita
- Hope Community Services, Inc (Jeanette Lin Moore, Executive Director), Oklahoma City
- Ideal Crane Corporation (Manfred Uekermann, President), Tulsa
- Independent Opportunities, Inc. (Greg Dimond, Director of Quality Assurance), Oklahoma City
- Inola Association of Classroom Teachers (Audra Cornett, President), Inola
- Jenks Parents Legislative Advocacy Committee (Amy Vargus, Facilitator), Jenks
- Kaiser-Francis Oil Company (George Kaiser), Tulsa
- Kerri Beurker PLLC (Kerri Beurker LPC/LADC/CMIII, Owner), Tulsa
- KMO Development Group, Inc. (Bruce G. Bolzle, CEO), Tulsa
- League of Women Voters of Oklahoma (Sheila Swearingen, President), Oklahoma City
- Mayflower Congregational UCC Church (Rev. Dr. Robin R. Myers, Senior Minister/Professor), Oklahoma City
- MB Marketing Inc. (Marshal Brence, Owner), Poteau
- MLeon LLC (Marguerite L. McGuffin, Owner/Operator), Oklahoma City
- Mcgee Creek Lake Store (Connie Moreland, Co-owner Operator), Farris
- Mental Health Association Oklahoma (Michael Brose, Executive Director), Tulsa and Oklahoma City
- Mimosa Tree Capital Partners, LLC (Vince LoVoi, Managing Partner), Tulsa
- Moran Oil Enterprises (Melvin Moran, Operating Partner), Seminole
- Morton Comprehensive Health Services (John Silva, CEO), Tulsa, Nowata, Bartlesville
- Mustang Child Development Center (Jenifer Percival, Owner), Mustang
- National Association of Social Workers, Oklahoma Chapter (Mary Jo Kinzie, Executive Director), Oklahoma City
- NBC Oklahoma (Ken Fergeson, Chairman), Altus, Enid, Kingfisher, OKC and Tulsa
- New Hope Oklahoma (Lindsay Fry-Geier, Executive Director), Tulsa
- Oklahoma Alliance on Aging (Marietta Real, Executive Coordinator), Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma City AFT (Ed Allen, President), Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice (Martha Skeeters, Ph.D., President), Norman
- Oklahoma Community-based Providers, Inc. (Judith T. Goodwin, Executive Director), Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma Conference of Churches (Rev. Dr. William Tabbernee, Executive Director), Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma Corrections Professionals (David H. Ramsey, President), Lexington
- Oklahoma Education Association (Linda Hampton, President), Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma Families First, Inc. (Travis Wayne Gameson, President/CEO), Norman
- Oklahoma Nurses Association (Jane Nelson, Executive Director), Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma Policy Institute (David Blatt, Executive Director), Tulsa
- Oklahoma Primary Care Association (Judy Grant, Interim CEO), Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma PTA (Jeffrey Corbett, President), Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma Retired Educators Association (Norm Cooper, Executive Director), Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma Schools Advisory Council (Paul Hurst, Executive Director), Muskogee
- Oklahoma Sierra Club (Johnson Bridgwater, Director), Oklahoma City
- Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature Alumni Association (John Kusel, President), Ft. Cobb
- Oklahoma State Council on Aging (Trish Emig, Chairwoman), Stillwater
- Oklahoma Therapeutic Foster Care Association (Laura Boyd, Executive Director), Norman
- Oklahoma’s Action Rehabilitation Center (Terry Trego, Executive Director), Woodward
- Options Inc. (Donna Cunningham, Executive Director), Checotah
- Panhandle Area Sheltered Workshop Inc. (Carol Batterman, Executive Director), Guymon
- The Peace House (Nathaniel Batchelder, Director), Oklahoma City
- People, Inc. (Jim Harris, CEO), Sallisaw
- Phillips Theological Seminary Faculty Senate (Nancy-Claire Pittman, Vice-President of Academic Affairs), Tulsa
- Professional Firefighters of Oklahoma AFL-CIO (Chas. “Chalk” E. Norton, Legislative Director), Oklahoma City
- Quality Care Child Development Center (Leteria Battles, Co-Owner), Oklahoma City
- Rambling Roads Designs (Beth Perry, Owner), Tuttle
- Sally’s List, Inc. (Sara Jane Rose, Board President), Oklahoma City
- Samson Energy Company, LLC (Stacy Schusterman, Chairman), Tulsa
- Sanders Town & Country (Craig Sanders, Owner), Boise City
- Snyder Public Schools (Robert Trammell, Superintendent), Snyder
- Sooner Utilities, Inc. (Jeanine Ridener, Director), Edmond
- Springs Incorporated (Linda Marlin, Executive Director), Sand Springs
- Stilwell Public Schools (Geri D Gilstrap, Superintendent), Stilwell
- Tahlequah Public Schools (Lisa Presley, Superintendent), Tahlequah
- Tenkiller Public School (Randy Rountree, Superintendent), Welling
- Tulsa Global Alliance, Inc. (Rebecca Collins, President & CEO), Tulsa
- Tulsa Interfaith Alliance (Rev. Bob Lawrence, Executive Director), Tulsa
- Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry (Ray Hickman, Executive Director), Tulsa
- Tulsa Web Results (Kevan Judah, Owner), Broken Arrow
- Urban Ag Coalition of Oklahoma City (Christine Patton, co-Chair), Oklahoma City
- Vinita Classroom Teachers Association (Sherri Callahan, President), Vinita
- Voices Organized In Civic Engagement (VOICE) (Sundra Flansburg, President), Oklahoma City
- Walters Power International (David Walters, CEO), Oklahoma City
- Wales Properties, LLC (Dale Wares, President) Norman
- Wiggin Properties (Charles E. Wiggin, President), Oklahoma City
- Wilson Arts, Inc., (Renate W. Wiggin, Treasurer), Oklahoma City
- Winchester Exterminating, Inc. (Linda Ruth Fields, Vice-President), Tulsa
- Windeater Acres (Deborah J Willis, Owner), Jones
- YWCA OKC (Jan Peery, Chief Executive Officer), Oklahoma City
- YWCA Tulsa (Vanessa Finley, CEO), Tulsa
- Anne and Henry Zarrow Foundation (Judy Kishner, President), Tulsa
- John Steele Zink Foundation (Caroline Abbott, Trustee), Tulsa
Individual Signatories
(NOTE: Institutional affiliations and professions were provided by the individual and are for identification purposes only. They do not represent an institutional endorsement)
- Caroline Zink-Hott Abbott (Trustee, John Steele Zink Foundation), Tulsa
- Melissa Abdo (Tulsa City Director, Stand for Children Oklahoma), Jenks
- Kendra Adams (At-home Mom), Newcastle
- Dawn Allee, Oklahoma City
- Marilyn Joy Avery, (Retired Citizen), Tulsa
- Cheryl Lynn Bay, Norman
- Rev. Dr. Stanley Basler (Saint Paul School of Theology), Oklahoma City
- Ronald Beer (Retired, Vice President at Oklahoma State University), Stillwater
- Michael Black, Choctaw
- Suzanne Blackshear (Self-employed), Tulsa
- Emily Blakley (Teacher, Little Axe High School), Norman
- Vanessa Boshuizen (Student, University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine), Tulsa
- Michael Bounds (Realtor), Yukon
- Beau Brock (Certified Financial Planner, Brock and Associates), Tulsa
- Stewart Brower, Tulsa
- Dr. Bob Brown (Retired), Burneyville
- Teresa Meinders Burkett (Attorney, Connor & Winters, LLP), Tulsa
- Charles R. Clark (President, Ponca City Senior Advisory Board), Ponca City
- William B. Clary (CEO, PHYCO2, LLC), Tulsa
- Michael Colaw (Phillips 66), Bartlesville
- Teresa Critz (Teacher), Tulsa
- Suzanne Curtin (Retired), Oklahoma City
- Dean Denton (Retired Teacher), Broken Arrow
- Gary Donaho, Midwest City
- Charlotte Edwards (Retired), Oklahoma City
- Deanne Finley (Teacher, Union Public Schools), Tulsa
- Glenda Fogleman (Retired, OSBI), Edmond
- Verna Foust (CEO, Red Rock Behavioral Health Services), Oklahoma City
- Joyce Freshwate (Retired), Tulsa
- Karen Ann Gaddis (Retired Educator), Tulsa
- Teri Ganes, Woodward
- Lynn Garman (Co-Owner, Garman Productions), Oklahoma City
- William Gaston (Teacher, Heritage Hall School), Edmond
- David Glover (Founder, BadVoter.org), Oklahoma City
- Mary Jane Gorton (Retired, Teacher), Norman
- Dr. Dana Gray, Tulsa
- Betty Greer, Duncan
- James Kent Hancock (Teacher, Cushing Public Schools), Cushing
- Mary Harmon, Broken Arrow
- Helen Harris (Public school parent), Jenks
- Dr. Kimberly Hastings (RTL Instructional Facilitator), Edmond
- Jennifer Hendrix, Norman
- Kathrene Hewett (Retired), Norman
- Michael & Sarah Lane Hinkston, Jones
- Jenilee Hitchcock, (Teacher, Durant Public Schools), Durant
- JoAnn Holman (Legal Assistant, James Dunn and Associates), Oklahoma City
- Robin Honel-Haskins (DDSD Case Manager II, OKDHS), Shawnee
- Brian Hosmer, Tulsa
- Spring Houghton (Teacher, Tulsa Public Schools), Tulsa
- George Boyd Huff (Retired SFC, US Army), Lawton
- Barbie Jackson, Sand Springs
- Danielle Renee Jerden (Teacher), Moore
- Sara King (Student, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center), Norman
- Gale King (Member, International Brotherhood of Electric Workers), Tulsa
- Paula Koos (Executive Director, Oklahoma Child Care Resource Referral Center), Oklahoma City
- Carolyn Kramer (Retired Teacher). Cherokee
- Judy Krase, (Bethany Christian Church), Tulsa
- Cari Krawiec (Psychologist, Union Public Schools), Tulsa
- Bernadette Krawczyk, Norman
- Melissa Lau (Teacher), Oklahoma City
- Sharon Lawson, Oklahoma City
- Suzi Lenhart (Miss Suzi’s Singing School), Ponca City
- Marian Lindstrom, Broken Arrow
- Kathy Litherland (Teacher, Western Heights), Oklahoma City
- Robie London (Angus Valley Elementary), Sand Springs
- Janet Lynn (Executive Director, Stillwater Group Homes, Inc.), Stillwater
- Clifford Mack (IT Architect, University of Oklahoma), Choctaw
- Marla Mansfield (Professor of Law, University of Tulsa), Tulsa
- Janice Marr (Social Worker), Sand Springs
- E. Jeannette Massey (Retired Speech Pathologist), Stroud
- Steve Massey (President, Oklahoma Retired Educators Association), Stroud
- Marilyn Masterson, Tulsa
- Rev. Kathy McCallie (Pastor, United Church of Christ), Tulsa
- Troy McPherson (Attorney), Tulsa
- Joe Meeks (Retired), Tulsa
- David Mendez (VividBin), Oklahoma City
- Joshua Daniel Miller, Stillwater
- Cynthia Mooney (Early Childhood Consultant, Child Care Resource Center), Tulsa
- JC Morgan, Miami
- Ruth Nelson, Tulsa
- Terry Nickels (Former Owner, JB’s Steakhouse), Woodward
- Brenda Nunley (Teacher, Chouteau Mazie School District), Chouteau
- Donna Orban, Tulsa
- Jim Pacula (Vice-President, Board of Trustees, Gatesway Foundation Inc.)
- Gary Peluso-Verdend (President, Phillips Theological Seminary), Tulsa
- Ann Pemberton (Apex, Inc.), Anadarko
- Derek Phillips (Law Enforcement), Edmond
- Kim Price (Healdton Elementary), Healdton
- Glenda Puett (Retired Teacher), Mustang
- Marshal Salmon (Chemistry Teacher, Union Public Schools), Tulsa
- Darsea Sanders (Teacher, Claremore Public Schools), Claremore
- Craig Sanders (Owner, Sanders Town & Country), Boise City
- Tom Sanders (County Commissioner, Delaware County), Grove
- Dr. Melinda Sharp (Phillips Theological Seminary), Tulsa
- Jim Shelton (Rancher), Vinita
- IIana Shushansky (Data Analyst, Family & Children Services), Tulsa
- Jeremy Skaggs (Reverend, First Christian Church), Woodward
- Susanna Wesley Southard (Reverend, Phillips Theological Seminary), Tulsa
- Steven Stark (Teacher, Steven Stark Music), Oklahoma City
- James Mark Stodghill, Vinita
- Mimi Tarrasch (Executive Senior Program Director, Family & Childrens Services), Tulsa
- Rosemary Vaughan (Teacher, Tulsa Public Schools), Tulsa
- Robyn Venable (Retired), Sapulpa
- Colleen Venters, Boley
- Tom Verdel (Retired), Tulsa
- Lori Wakefield (Teacher, Ketchum Public Schools), Ketchum
- Michelle Warren, Tulsa
- Judy Watts (Teacher), Valliant
- Janice Weaver (Rancher), Kiowa
- Susan Weeks (Ketchum Public Schools), Ketchum
- Jill Wenger M.D. (St. John’s Medical Center), Tulsa
- Keli Wilkie (LCSW, Moore Public Schools), Oklahoma City
- Catherine Wilkinson (Teacher, Moore Public Schools), Oklahoma City
- John Williams (Partner, Conner & Winters, LLP), Tulsa
- Eric Winkle (President, Putnam City Association of Classroom Teachers), Bethany
- Dr. Richard E. Wood (Retired History Professor), Bethany
- Vernon Woods, Piedmont