YEAH. STITT IS ADAMANT THIS IMMIGRATION LAW HOUSE BILL 4156 ONLY GOES AFTER CRIMINALS AND THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS THE TOOLS THEY’RE EQUIPPED TO ENFORCE THAT LAW. SO TODAY WE ASKED HIM IF HE HAS ANY CONCERNS. THE GOVERNOR THAT IS AFTER OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE CHIEF TOLD US EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT THIS LAW COULD CAUSE SOME ISSUES FOR HIS DEPARTMENT. DO YOU HAVE FEAR THAT SOME POLICE OFFICERS MIGHT NOT EVEN TRY TO ENFORCE A LAW THAT IS ON THE BOOKS? YOU KNOW, I’M NOT IF IF THE OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE CHIEF SAYING HE’S NOT GOING TO ENFORCE THE LAW, I’M NOT GOING TO GET INTO GET INTO THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THE HIGHWAY PATROL, THE OKLAHOMA CITY TULSA I KNOW THEY BOTH THEY’VE ALL ISSUED STATEMENTS TRYING TO ALLEVIATE FEAR. THEY’RE NOT GOING DOOR TO DOOR, UH, ROUNDING PEOPLE UP. UM, SO BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE WE’RE A LAW AND ORDER STATE. UNUSUAL. BUT, UH, REALLY? WHAT IS THAT? THAT WAS THE GOVERNOR’S RESPONSE AFTER OKLAHOMA CITY POLICE CHIEF WADE GOURLEY TOLD KOCO THIS WEEK THAT HOUSE BILL 4156, COULD LEAD TO RACIAL PROFILING AND UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS CALLING POLICE WHEN THEY ARE NOT CALLING POLICE WHEN THEY NEED HELP. STITT AND OTHER SUPPORTERS OF THE BILL, LIKE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SENATE PRO TEM, HAVE SAID THIS WEEK THAT THEY TRUST LAW ENFORCEMENT NOT TO RACIALLY PROFILE LAWSUITS AND LEGAL CHALLENGES ARE EXPECTED FOR THIS LAW, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN FILED YET. A SIMILAR LAW PASSED IN TEXAS REMAINS TIED UP IN THE COURTS, AND THIS LAW IS SET TO GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST. BACK TO YOU. WELL, ANDY, I KNOW THE GOVERNOR FOR CHANGING SUBJECTS HERE JUST A LITTLE BIT. I KNOW THAT THE GOVERNORS SEEM TO HAVE SLIGHTLY CHANGED HIS TUNE IN HIS CALL FOR AN INCOME TAX CUT, A STATE INCOME TAX CUT. WHAT IS HE CALLING FOR NOW? YEAH, HE SEEMS TO BE ASKING FOR A LITTLE LESS THIS TIME. PREVIOUSLY, HE HAS CALLED FOR A 0.25% INCOME TAX CUT. NOW HE JUST WANTS A CHANGE TO THE TAX STRUCTURE TO HOW WE TAX OKLAHOMANS. SO INSTEAD HE WANTS A SINGLE FLAT TAX OF 4.75% IN HIS IDEA. IT WOULD LEAVE OUT THE POOREST OKLAHOMANS FROM BEING TAXED HERE IN THE STATE. SO IN OTHER WORDS, EVERY OKLAHOMA THAT MAKES LESS THAN $27,100 WOULD PAY NO TAXES. SO THAT’S MY LATEST ITERATION TO TRY TO SAY, HEY, LET’S DO SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING WITH INFLATION. AND IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE SET TO RESUME ON MONDAY, REPORT
Oklahoma governor stands by controversial immigration law amid law enforcement concerns
The newly signed law allows local law enforcement to imprison and then remove undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma
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Updated: 9:35 PM CDT May 10, 2024
Gov. Kevin Stitt remains steadfast in his support for a recently signed immigration law, despite concerns raised by Oklahoma City's top law enforcement officer. The newly signed law allows local law enforcement to imprison and then remove undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma. OKC police Chief Wade Gourley said he's not even sure how a law like this is enforceable and could result in racial profiling."If the Oklahoma City police chief saying he's not going to enforce the law, I'm not going to get into that," Stitt said on Friday. "The Highway Patrol, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, they've all issued statements trying to alleviate fear. They're not going door to door, rounding people up. But they are trying to make sure we're a law and order state."Chief Gourley telling us earlier this week, he is concerned about how his officers are going to enforce it. The governor, along with other supporters of the bill, such as Attorney General Getner Drummond and Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, have expressed their trust in law enforcement. They believe that law enforcement will not resort to racial profiling. While lawsuits and legal challenges are anticipated, none have been filed yet. A similar law in Texas is currently entangled in legal proceedings. The new Oklahoma law is scheduled to take effect on July 1. In a related development, Stitt appeared to have revised his call for an income tax cut. "Every Oklahoman that makes less than $27,100 would pay no taxes," Stitt said. "So, that's my latest iteration to try to say, 'Hey, let's do something for people that are hurting with inflation.'" Instead of a quarter of a percent cut, the governor is now advocating for the elimination of the state's tax brackets. He proposes a single 4.75% flat tax that excludes Oklahoma's poorest residents. House and Senate leaders are scheduled to meet with the governor on Monday to discuss budget negotiations.Top Headlines Authorities search for three inmates in Anadarko after escaping from Caddo County Jail Thousands of Oklahomans at risk of losing affordable internet due to program's upcoming end Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper involved in crash near Stillwater Flying during Memorial Day weekend? Here are some gadgets that can help make it a smooth ride Cyberattack forces major US health care network to divert ambulances from hospitals
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt remains steadfast in his support for a recently signed immigration law, despite concerns raised by Oklahoma City's top law enforcement officer.
The newly signed law allows local law enforcement to imprison and then remove undocumented immigrants in Oklahoma. OKC police Chief Wade Gourley said he's not even sure how a law like this is enforceable and could result in racial profiling.
"If the Oklahoma City police chief saying he's not going to enforce the law, I'm not going to get into that," Stitt said on Friday. "The Highway Patrol, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, they've all issued statements trying to alleviate fear. They're not going door to door, rounding people up. But they are trying to make sure we're a law and order state."
Chief Gourley telling us earlier this week, he is concerned about how his officers are going to enforce it.
The governor, along with other supporters of the bill, such as Attorney General Getner Drummond and Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, have expressed their trust in law enforcement. They believe that law enforcement will not resort to racial profiling.
While lawsuits and legal challenges are anticipated, none have been filed yet. A similar law in Texas is currently entangled in legal proceedings.
The new Oklahoma law is scheduled to take effect on July 1.
In a related development, Stitt appeared to have revised his call for an income tax cut.
"Every Oklahoman that makes less than $27,100 would pay no taxes," Stitt said. "So, that's my latest iteration to try to say, 'Hey, let's do something for people that are hurting with inflation.'"
Instead of a quarter of a percent cut, the governor is now advocating for the elimination of the state's tax brackets. He proposes a single 4.75% flat tax that excludes Oklahoma's poorest residents.
House and Senate leaders are scheduled to meet with the governor on Monday to discuss budget negotiations.
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