When Ron Paul talks about repealing the income tax and replacing it with nothing, most people think it can’t be done. But at least on the state level, it can. In fact, there are nine states, including Paul’s home state of Texas, that don’t levy income taxes. Those states have far outperformed high-income-tax states on every measure of economic success. Now Oklahoma is poised to fully repeal its income tax and join the ranks of non-income-tax states.

Oklahoma’s economy is finally showing signs of renewal. Personal income grew faster in 2011 than in any other state in the nation except the Dakotas. Our state’s unemployment rate, 6.1 percent, is the eighth lowest in the nation. Actual tax revenues coming in have beaten revenue forecasts for seven consecutive months – indicating more economic activity than expected. These are all positive signs. Fortunately, lawmakers now have an opportunity to lock in our state’s path to economic prosperity. The proposal that can do this: Lowering and gradually eliminating the state’s income tax.