Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma wants to expand opportunity and secure economic growth in our state in order to benefit all citizens.  To that end, we seek to educate citizens about economic policy and mobilize them to help put a stop to the harmful growth of government.  AFP has identified the following policy priorities for 2008 that will help guide Oklahoma along the path to prosperity. 

• End Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
  • Using our tax dollars to hire lobbyists to go back to the capitol and lobby for more of our tax dollars is just wrong, needs transparency, and should be stopped.
  • Lobbying with our tax dollars is a growth industry in Oklahoma:
    • There are 79 government paid lobbyists in Oklahoma representing 54 state funded entities.
    • How much of our Oklahoma tax dollars is spent on these lobbyists is unknown. 
    • Oklahoma is ranked 42^nd in “lobbying openness” by the Center for Public Integrity. 
    • On lobbying the federal gov’t, the University of Oklahoma ranks 70^th nationally and has spent more than the states of KS, MO, NM and WY combined..
    • From ’98-06, Oklahoma’s taxpayers spent $6,985,000 on federal lobbyists.

 The citizens of Oklahoma work hard for their money and they deserve to have their tax dollars spent wisely.  AFP-OK will help shine a light on taxpayer-funded lobbying in our state.  . 

• More Appropriate Education Spending: Cut Administration Costs

Did you know that…

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  • Oklahoma has 539 school districts with 3.5 million people…excessive by any measure.
  • Oklahoma spends 3-times more on administration than TX, KS, or AR.
  • Each of these 539 school districts employs a Superintendent earning between $70k-130k.
  • Some of these school districts have less than 100 students.
  • The average amount spent on instructing students nationally is $4,934. Oklahoma spends just $2,676.

 AFP-OK calls for more appropriate educations spending that focuses on our students and not the administrators. Oklahoma cannot afford to keep throwing money at a failing education system  

• Improve Business Friendliness by Repealing the Franchise Tax
  • Oklahoma already has a business tax.  It’s called the 6% corporate income tax.  The Franchise Tax is double taxation and a nuisance to businesses statewide. 
  • Most businesses pay more money to file franchise tax returns than they pay in the tax itself. And it actually cost more to collect this tax than the tax itself.

 A bad business tax climate drives companies and jobs out of the state. AFP-OK will call for the repeal of the franchise tax in order to attract business and create more opportunities and prosperity for all. 

• End Earmarking; Pass Lawsuit Reform; & Fix the Property Tax Loophole
  • Stop the secretive state earmarking. AFP calls for openness and accountability.
  • Pass meaningful lawsuit reform that protects Oklahomans from frivolous lawsuits.
  • Close the property tax loopholes for special interest groups. Lower everyone’s taxes.

 Oklahoma has many issues that need attention:  Secret earmarking with no accountability is a recipe for corruption. Businesses need lawsuit reform in order to thrive in our state. The developer’s exception is unfair to taxpaying citizens. This law must be clarified.