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- Tribal sovereignty has emerged as a key concern for lawmakers and Gov. Kevin Stitt at first of the 2024 legislative session.
- Stitt, a Republican and member of the Cherokee Nation, has a strained relationship with tribal leaders stemming from authorized disputes.
- Stitt opposes expanded tribal sovereignty and criticized the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court choice limiting state prosecutors’ jurisdiction in Indian Country.
Tribal sovereignty is predicted to once more be a high issue dealing with lawmakers and Gov. Kevin Stitt as they return on Monday to start the 2024 legislative session.
Stitt, a Republican and himself a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, has had a contentious relationship with tribal leaders that started with a dispute throughout his first yr in workplace over on line casino income and has worsened with battle over agreements on tobacco gross sales, motorcar tags, taxes and prison jurisdiction.
The governor, now in his second time period, has been a frequent critic of expanded tribal sovereignty and of the landmark 2020 U.S. Supreme Court choice that decided state prosecutors lack prison jurisdiction over sure crimes dedicated in Indian Country.
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In an interview with The Associated Press final week, Stitt stated his position is to symbolize all 4 million Oklahomans and never enable tribal residents to have an unfair benefit. He believes that would occur if the Oklahoma Supreme Court guidelines in favor of a Native American girl who claims she would not must pay state revenue taxes as a result of she lives and works on a tribal reservation.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt solutions a query whereas participating in a panel dialogue throughout a Republican Governors Association convention on Nov. 16, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. Tribal sovereignty is predicted to once more be a high issue dealing with lawmakers and Stitt as they return on Feb. 5 to start the 2024 legislative session. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
“There’s no way I would be doing my job as governor if I said: ‘Oh, African Americans pay taxes, white people and Asians (pay taxes), but American Indians don’t,'” Stitt stated. “It’s like I’m in a twilight zone having to explain this to people.”
Stitt will ship his State of the State handle to the Legislature on Monday and launch his proposed spending plan for the fiscal yr that begins July 1.
Last yr the Legislature convened in particular session to override the governor’s veto of a invoice to increase agreements on tribal tobacco gross sales and motorcar tags and the issue is predicted to floor once more in the session starting Monday.
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Many lawmakers hope the connection between the tribes and Stitt has thawed considerably following a deal the governor reached final month with the Chickasaw Nation for a 10-year settlement.
“I see it as a very good indication that the state and the tribes will be able to work together,” stated Sen. Brent Howard, chairman of the Joint Committee on State-Tribal relations.
Among the opposite points lawmakers are anticipated to sort out is a attainable revenue tax reduce, a high precedence for Stitt. The House permitted a 0.25% discount in the speed final week, however Senate leaders have stated such a transfer is untimely since ultimate income numbers have not been launched.
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