Tax credit records should be open

Millions in tax credits have been dished out by the Legislature to stimulate industrial growth and jobs.

But many millions of tax credits were sold for 50 cents on the dollar or less to companies who owed taxes to the state.

Sometimes the seller -- say at Burns Flat or Chickasha, and other places -- took the money they got and skipped out without any job creation.

Tax credits should be not transferable, and all records on them public.

The chambers of commerce and some others say openness will let Texas know what we are doing and go after the business we think we bought . . . only to be swindled out of both the jobs and the tax money that was due to the state of Oklahoma.

How dumb. How stupid. The rewards of secrecy cost more than the current revenue shortfall.

Ben Blackstock

Treasurer

FOI Oklahoma Inc.