OCARTA Honors Senator Don Barrington

Oklahoma Citizen Advocates for Recovery and Treatment Association (OCARTA) has named Senator Don Barrington as its 2009 Legislator of the Year.

OCARTA Executive Director Donna Woods Bauer praised Barrington, R-Lawton, for his support of the organization and efforts to make a significant contribution to the lives of Oklahomans affected by addiction.

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Barrington Seeks Sales Tax Holiday Expansion

Senator Don Barrington, R-Lawton, said today he is authoring Senate Bill 723 that will expand his successful Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday to include school supplies and reference materials.

Under the current law, created by Barrington’s Senate Bill 861 in 2007, clothing and shoes valued at less than $100 can be purchased free of sales tax during the first weekend in August. Barrington introduced Senate Bill 861, which passed the Legislature with bipartisan support and received the governor’s signature, after years of failed attempts by other legislators.

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Veterans Council Honors Coody, Barrington

Rep. Ann Coody and Senator Don Barrington, both Lawton Republicans, have been singled out for their commitment to Oklahoma Veterans, their families and survivors and given the 2007-2008 "Senator of the Year" and "Representative of the Year" awards by the Oklahoma State Veterans Council.

Coody and Barrington were selected for their guidance and leadership with veterans' legislation and honored with awards at a meeting of the Oklahoma State Veterans Council meeting today.

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Tax-Free Weekend Coming Up

From The Senate Media Office ~ State Senator Don Barrington, the author of the law that created Oklahoma’s sales tax holiday, is excited about this weekend’s tax-free event after seeing how successful it was in 2007.

“Oklahoma’s sales tax holiday helps families save money on purchases of clothing and shoes, and it provides a boost to Oklahoma’s economy, too,” said Barrington, R-Lawton.

“Last year, the sales tax holiday performed exactly as many of us predicted: it boosted retail sales by a whopping $100 million for the month of August,” said Senator Jay Paul Gumm, who fought for years to pass the measure. “The holiday will do the same this year.”

Oklahoma’s sales tax holiday for 2008 runs from 12:01 a.m. this Friday, August 1 through midnight on Sunday, August 3.

“We created the back-to-school sales tax holiday to help Oklahomans save money on purchases of clothes and shoes, especially for parents of children who are about to go back to school,” stated Barrington. “Last year we also saw the tremendous economic benefit of the sales tax holiday as businesses had an increase in sales to shoppers of all ages,” he said.

In 2007 the Oklahoma Legislature overwhelmingly passed Barrington’s Senate Bill 861. The bill created a three-day sales tax holiday on the first weekend of August each year, making purchases of clothing and shoes up to $100 free of sales taxes.

Even though clothes and shoes are tax free during the holiday, last year’s event actually resulted in an overall increase in sales tax collections due to the extra business generated by shoppers over the weekend.

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House Clears Sales Tax Holiday Expansion

Parents would be able to buy school supplies tax-free this fall if legislation passed in the House today becomes law.

Senate Bill 1149, by Rep. Don Armes and Senator Don Barrington, would expand the state’s back to school sales tax holiday to include school supplies, school art supplies and school instructional materials. The exemption would be limited to items costing less than $100.

The legislation is estimated to save parents about $17 million annually once fully implemented.

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Tax Free Weekend Expansion Bill Passes Senate

The Senate has approved a measure its sponsors say will help Oklahoma families save money on school supplies. The vote was 32 to 14.

Senate Bill 1149, by Senator Don Barrington and Rep. Don Armes, would extend Oklahoma's Back to School sales tax holiday to include school supplies to the list of items already exempt from sales tax during the first weekend in August.

"I've had numerous parents tell me how their kids' school supply lists get longer and more expensive every year," said Barrington, R-Lawton, who was the author of last year's sales tax holiday. "The sales tax holiday last year helped save Oklahomans millions of dollars and they were able to stretch their hard earned dollars further when they did their back to school shopping. This bill would help them even more."

Barrington noted during his debate that the Tax Commission estimates that revenue impact to the state will be around $18.5 million.

Currently, clothing and footwear valued up to $100 are tax-free during the sales tax holiday. SB 1149 would expand the list of tax-free items to include school supplies such as pencils, paper, crayons, notebooks, calculators and instructional materials that cost under $100 as well.

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Senate Committee Advances Sales Tax Holiday Bill

Senator Don Barrington’s bill to expand Oklahoma’s back-to-school sales tax holiday to include school supplies was approved by the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday.

Under current law, the sales tax holiday on the first weekend in August exempts clothing and shoes from sales tax.

Barrington’s Senate Bill 1149 expands the list of tax-exempt items to include school supplies beginning in August 2009. The bill was drafted so it would not impact the upcoming budget year.

“Oklahoma’s first sales tax holiday was a huge success for our state, which had been losing business to neighboring states like Texas. This bill will help parents save money on the school supplies they buy for their children each year,” stated Barrington, R-Lawton.

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Barrington Wants No Tax On Federal Rebates

Senator Don Barrington wants to ensure that any federal tax rebates this year are exempt from state income taxes.

“If the State of Oklahoma taxes these federal rebates, it will diminish the impact of the stimulus package on our state’s economy,” Barrington said. “It is imperative that the Legislature takes action this session to make sure Oklahomans don’t have to fork over part of their federal rebate to the state government.”

Barrington, R-Lawton, plans to add the proposal as an amendment to SB 1149, his legislation to expand the state sales tax holiday to include school supplies.

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GOP Chairman's Call Nixes Democrat's Plan

A fundraising golf tournament for Democratic State Senate candidate Rick Wolfe at Fort Sill's golf course has been cancelled after Republican State Chairman Gary Jones alerted Fort Sill officials about the political nature of the planned event.

Jones confirmed today that he made the call to Fort Sill officials when he learned about Wolfe's planned political event on federal property through a newspaper advertisement (at right) Wolfe placed.

The advertisement announced the December 3rd event and the site and said players would be charged $100 per person, proceeds to Wolfe's campaign for the Democratic nomination in the district.

Wolfe seeks to unseat Republican Senator Don Barrington, elected to the District 31 seat in 2004.

Jones said he was told that the course was reserved for the Wolfe tournament by a woman who gave few details and did not mention it was for a political candidate or involved raising money for his campaign.

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Senate Approves Tax Relief Package

The evenly-divided Oklahoma Senate voted Monday to send Governor Brad Henry a tax relief package that speeds up income tax cuts and provides Oklahomans with a back-to-school sales tax holiday.

Senate Bill 861, by Senator Don Barrington, R-Lawton, passed on a bipartisan 33 to 15 vote. This bill is the result of a bipartisan tax relief agreement announced by Senate and House leaders in March.

Senate Co-President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, called on Henry to sign the legislation.“This bill provides much-needed relief to Oklahoma taxpayers. It’s a very good bill for Oklahoma families and small businesses, so the governor should sign it,” Coffee said.

Senate Finance Committee co-chair Mike Mazzei, R-Tulsa, said cutting the state’s income tax rate provides a boost to the state economy. “This bill speeds up the income tax cuts enacted in 2006, which is a boost to the economy and job creation here in Oklahoma. History is replete with examples of income tax cuts resulting in unprecedented economic growth – from America in the 1960s and 1980s to Ireland in the 1990s,” stated Mazzei.

Barrington said the sales tax holiday will help back-to-school shoppers in Oklahoma, especially in areas that border Oklahoma’s neighbors. “Oklahoma businesses lose many customers to states like Texas that offer sales tax holidays to back-to-school shoppers. SB 861 helps level the playing field by giving Oklahoma families a break, too,” said Barrington.

Details of the tax relief package in SB 861 include:• Acceleration of last year's income tax cut plan, bringing the state's top marginal income tax rate down to 5.25 percent one year earlier. Currently the rate is 5.65 percent.• A statewide three-day sales tax holiday beginning the first Friday in August for clothing and footwear with a sales price of less than $100.• Elimination of the state’s franchise tax on most small businesses.• A tax credit for stay-at-home parents similar to that currently offered for parents with children in daycare.

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