Democrats, Republicans clash over cigarette tax in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma House rejected a proposed $1.50-per-pack tax on cigarettes to help stave off cuts to the state's health care system, with Democrats uniting against the plan until it includes an expansion of Medicaid for the working poor.
Even after more than two hours of efforts by Republicans to wrangle votes, the bill failed on a vote of 59-40 late Wednesday. The author indicated he may bring the bill back to the floor for reconsideration, but it cannot pass without some Democratic support.
The 30 House Democrats have said they won't support the tax until Republicans agree to some version of Medicaid expansion that would allow Oklahoma to tap into hundreds of millions of dollars available to states through the Affordable Care Act.
"Our entire position has been consistent since day one," said House Democratic leader Rep. Scott Inman. "If they want to do a cigarette tax, we'll do it with them if they choose to bring those federal dollars home. We haven't changed.
"It makes no sense to say we have to have a $180 million cigarette tax, but leave $900 million on the table. We can have both."