Oklahoma justices to hear challenge to penny education tax

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma’s highest court is expected to hear arguments in a challenge to an initiative petition for a public vote on a penny sales tax for education.

The state’s highest court plans to hear oral arguments in the case Wednesday.

A group is launching a signature drive for a statewide vote on a one-cent sales tax that would generate about $615 million a year to help fund education and teacher pay raises. But a conservative think tank opposed to higher taxes is challenging the petition, claiming it violates the requirement that any proposed constitutional amendment pertain to only one subject.

Justices Tom Colbert and Joseph Watt recused themselves from the case, and two special justices have been appointed to replace them.