14 hours Ago
As a conservative Republican legislator representing Oklahoma near the Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas borders, I’ve seen firsthand how our state’s mandatory 6% markup on consumer goods hurts families, businesses and our overall competitiveness. This outdated policy inflates the cost of essentials like diapers, school supplies and even gasoline, pushing our citizens to cross state lines for cheaper goods and driving Oklahoma dollars out of our local economy. It’s time for us to take a hard look at this law and eliminate it for good.
At its core, this mandatory markup is a hidden tax that punishes consumers, especially those in lower-income households who already feel the squeeze of inflation. People are also reading..
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Why is that one tree a different color? Those we lost: Tulsa, state said goodbye to several noteworthy personalities in 2024 A family in my district told me recently that they make regular trips to Missouri to stock up on groceries, school supplies and baby items because the prices there are simply more affordable. How can we call ourselves a state that champions free markets and personal liberty while forcing our residents to pay more than they need to for everyday necessities? What’s more, this policy is entirely unenforceable in today’s global economy. Internet trading companies — especially those located outside the U.
S., such as in China — aren’t bound by Oklahoma’s mandatory markup law. They can sell products directly to Oklahomans at competitive prices, leaving our local retailers at an unfair disadvantage.
It’s bad enough that our small businesses face stiff competition from online giants; the last thing they need is an artificial price floor mandated by their own state government. This law is a relic of a bygone era when policymakers believed minimum markup laws would protect small businesses from predatory pricing by large corporations. In today’s world, the opposite is true.
These rules make it harder for small retailers to compete because they prevent them from offering discounts to attract customers. Eliminating the mandatory markup would bring multiple benefits. It would provide immediate financial relief to Oklahoma families.
Diapers, school supplies and gasoline aren't luxuries; they are basic necessities. Getting rid of this unnecessary price inflation will allow Oklahomans to keep more of their hard-earned money. It would help keep Oklahoma shoppers — and their dollars — within our state.
Every time an Oklahoman travels to a border state or goes online to shop, our local restaurants, gas stations and other businesses lose out, and so do the residents who benefit from these dollars. By making our prices more competitive, we could stimulate our local economy and create a ripple effect of growth across the state. Finally, scrapping the mandatory markup would send a clear message that Oklahoma values free-market principles and limited government interference.
We should trust our businesses to set their prices based on competition and consumer demand, not on arbitrary government mandates. This is a straightforward issue for anyone who believes in fiscal responsibility and economic freedom. Let’s stop penalizing our families and small businesses.
Let’s make Oklahoma a state where people can afford to live, shop and raise a family without unnecessary government-imposed burdens. It’s time to repeal the mandatory 6% markup and allow the free market to do what it does best — deliver better products at better prices for everyone..
