HouseBill 2250 and its amendment, The Drug Money Laundering and WireTransmitter Act, sailed through the Legislature and was signed by thegovernor this session. Who could be opposed to such a law? No one,other than drug dealers, wants to see money laundered right here inOklahoma. Certainly no law-abiding citizen wants to see illegal fundssent to foreign countries.
HB 2250 covers issues such as charging a $150 fee to a person convictedof a misdemeanor or felony for forensic and laboratory services. Italso, among other things, would charge a $150 fee for a DNA test foranyone convicted of a felony. The bill also deals with the sale ofconfiscated property from convicted drug offenders.[snip]
People are upset because theysee illegal immigrants as not only taking jobs but then sending moneyto family in a foreign country. This tax (or fee) on remittances isconsidered the best way to discourage that practice. And it likely willaccomplish its goal, if it goes unchallenged.
The bill likely will pass muster under State Question 640,which established that no new taxes can be raised unless passed bythree-fourths of the Legislature or a vote of the people. HB 2250passed almost unanimously in the Legislature.
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This is no more than anotherattempt to punish a segment of our society that often feels helplessunder the law. It serves no other purpose. It comes disguised as ananti-drug law, but it is not. You can put nice clothes on a pig, but itnevertheless is a pig. This portion of the bill is a pig.
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