The Oklahoma House and Senate returned to the chambers on Monday, following the Governor’s special session request for a 0.25% reduction to the 4.75% income tax.

The House only spent about ten minutes in the chamber, and the Senate was even quicker.

Lawmakers said it costs about $30,000 a day to have the legislature back, paid by the taxpayers.

It might not be worth it.

The House voted on the tax cut bill, and plans to use the next three days to approve the Governor’s 0.25% income tax cut proposal.

The Senate chose a different path. They came back and adjourned until further notice, meaning they could return later, but will not vote on anything right away as they wait for the updated budget figures for the fiscal year.

“We have always told him [Governor Stitt] we need to see the real numbers before we do anything. We will get the real numbers on February 15th,” Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat said.

Rep. Jon Echols said he’s familiar with that answer from that side of the rotunda.

“We have been waiting for three years and the Senate is still saying they don’t have the data, they don’t have the information, they need more time. The people of Oklahoma have run out of time,” Rep. Echols said.

If the cut fails in this special session, the House hopes the Senate will change their mind by the regular session starting next week.

Meanwhile, lawmakers said each day the legislature is in special session, it costs more than $15,000 per chamber.

“We still think the Governor’s special session request was a waste of taxpayer money and resources,” Sen. Treat said.

Rep. Echols disagrees, saying that the money will come from the House and Senate’s budget, money they would use for other things anyway.

“If we are going to use our money for something, it should be for voting for the people of Oklahoma,” Rep. Echols said. “Democracy is not a waste of taxpayer money.”

Going forward, on Tuesday the House will do a second reading of the income tax cut, and on Wednesday they’ll pass the bill.