Gov. Kevin Stitt discussed a proposed grocery-tax cut, indictments and lawsuits involving Swadley’s Bar-B-Q and its relationship with the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, his proposal regarding civil asset forfeiture and the potential of Oklahoma National Guard troops being sent to the southern U.S. border during his first weekly news conference of the 2024 legislative session on Friday.
Here are four takeaways from the news conference:
Stitt will sign a grocery tax cut bill, even before an income tax cut bill
Stitt has pushed the state Legislature to reduce Oklahoma’s income tax to 3.75%. He’s twice called the Legislature into special session during the past 12 months to have them consider tax-cut proposals. During his State of the State address on Monday, he told lawmakers he’d sign any tax-cut bill that came to his desk.
Stitt reiterated that on Friday and said if a grocery tax cut proposal made it through the legislative process before one that would cut the income tax, he’d sign it. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said Thursday during the Oklahoma Press Association Legislative Forum that he’s working to convince a majority of senators to vote for a grocery tax cut.