Gov. Mary Fallin's proposed tax on legal fees upsets some lawyers

[TexasTowelie]

The Oklahoma Bar Association has not taken a position on Gov. Mary Fallin's proposal to tax legal services, but telephone calls to the association from member attorneys have been overwhelmingly against it, Oklahoma Bar Association President Linda S. Thomas said Thursday.

"We are beginning to hear from our members," said Thomas, a Bartlesville attorney. "So far the reaction has been entirely in opposition to the tax. The reactions are from the largest firms in the state to solo practitioners. Across the board, lawyers are concerned about increased costs to their clients."

Legal services are among 164 categories of services Fallin is proposing to require to pay state, city and county sales taxes in an effort to broaden the state's tax base and collect an additional $839.9 million for lawmakers to appropriate.

Architectural and engineering fees, dental services, doctor visits and utility services are just a small sampling of other services she has proposed to tax.

Read more: http://newsok.com/gov.-mary-fallins-proposed-tax-on-legal-fees-upsets-some-lawyers/article/5537523

[MichMan]

1. Why should they be exempt?

If you claim your opposition is based on not wanting to increase costs to your clients, then the easy solution is don't pass them on.

[TexasTowelie]

2. For being attorneys,

they don't recognize how weak their argument really is. Revoke their licenses and send them back to law school where they can learn how to develop arguments that are worthwhile in the court of common sense.