Oklahoma Senate in Favor of Oil and Gas Tax Hike

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Republican-controlled Oklahoma Senate indicated it would be willing to double the current production tax on oil and gas wells as a way to break a stalemate to fix a $215 million budget hole.

Senators approved a resolution Thursday urging their colleagues in the House to push through a package of tax hikes that includes a 4 percent tax rate on all new oil and gas wells. The current rate is 2 percent.

The Senate adopted the resolution on a voice vote, suggesting they will have enough votes to increase the gross production tax.

House Republicans put forth a series of tax hikes in a bill Wednesday that fell short of the three-fourth’s majority needed for approval. Democrats refused to back it without a production tax increase.