Tax action creates chasm, bad feelings in Oklahoma Legislature

Saturday, April 1st 2006, 4:06 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A $480-million tax cut approved by a House committee is bringing to the forefront of the Oklahoma Legislature a deep chasm between Democrats and Republicans.

The move also is causing some hard feelings, with one Senate leader saying a gentlemen's agreement on tax-cut negotiations has been breached.

Most legislators predict the measure will be slowed down in the Senate, but at a political cost.

Democratic Governor Brad Henry and Senate Democrats have proposed more modest tax cuts, holding that most of this year's record $600-million revenue surplus should go to education, health care and economic development.

Senate Democrats can still sidetrack the bill by rejecting House amendments, but with only a 25-to-22 majority, they will have to make sure they are in near full attendance when the bill comes up.