2010 Key Issues
- Ad Valorem Tax on Intangible Property - The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently ruled that certain intangible property of businesses could be taxed as income. The State Chamber will seek a legislative or constitutional solution to this dilemma which could increase taxes on businesses.
- Education - the State Chamber opposes efforts (such as SQ 744) that constitutionally mandate specific funding levels tied to other states' economies.
- Eminent Domain - The State Chamber opposes any changes to Oklahoma statutes on eminent domain that wuold negatively impact economic development.
- Energy - Oil and gas will continue to be the nation's primary energy resources for the foreseeable future, and The State Chamber supports the protection of exploration and production incentives for the state's oil and gas industry and opposes any energy tax increase proposals.
- Erosion of Incentives - The State Chamber continues to oppose attempts to reduce or repeal necessary economic development incentives for existing and new businesses.
- Five-Year Ad Valorem Tax Exemption - The State Chamber opposes attempts to eliminate or weaken this important tax exemption. At the same time, we need to find ways to solve the depletion of the Ad valorem Reimbursement Fund.
- Health Care - The State Chamber opposes the creation of new government-run health coverage options that compete unfairly with the private sector. Our goal is to assure affordable, quality healthcare.
- Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology - The State Chamber supports an increase in funding for OCAST.
- Tax Increment Financing (TIF) - The State Chamber opposes attempts to make it more difficult to use tax increment financing as an economic development tool.
- Transportation Funding - The State Chamber supports upgrading and maintaining the state's transportation infrastructure to include: roads & bridges, our navigation system and our general aviation system. The Chamber opposes any attempts to delay or unravel the transportation bond program passed in 2008.
- Water - The State Chamber opposes any significant changes in water law prior to completion of the update of the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan.
- Workers' Compensation Reform - The State Chamber believes we need a fundamental restructuring of our entire workers' compensation system and will work toward that goal.