A Guide to State Ballot Questions from AFP-Oklahoma

A Guide to State Ballot Questions

Now that the Oklahoma legislative session is over, we know which State Questions will be on the ballot in November. Below is a list of them including a short synopsis of how they will affect you. This will give you a basic understanding before you go to the ballot box in November. Spread the word…because one of these questions is very dangerous.

744: Education spending. A constitutional change that raises the per pupil spending by the state to the regional average. That average would be determined by the State Equalization Board as part of the revenue certification process and based on other states’ spending on education. There are no provisions in the bill on how the state would fund this. MY TAKE: While no one is opposed to ensuring we have the best education possible in this state, throwing more money at a failing system is not the way to solve our problems. We have some great schools in this state. But is it because of the money or something else? Education spending already consumes 54% of Oklahoma’s budget. This measure would increase that amount by nearly $1.2 Billion, thereby shutting down many agencies or raising taxes. The Governor, LT Gov, AG, and even pro-tax groups are against SQ 744. Let’s properly spend the funds we have now before throwing more money into the huge bureaucracy. Read more at www.Stop744.com.

746: Voter ID. In order to vote, a person must present either a valid, unexpired photo identification or the voter identification card issued by their county election board. Those without valid ID can still cast a provisional ballot which will be counted once they confirm their identity. MY TAKE: This is absolutely necessary to ensure our most sacred right is not infringed upon or abused.

747: Term limits for statewide elected officials. If passed, all statewide elected officials will be limited to only two terms in a specific office. That would be a total of 8-years in office for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Labor Commissioner, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Auditor, and 12-years in office for Corporation Commissioners. Partial terms would not apply to the limit. Those in office already when it passes would not have prior time count against them except Governor which is already limited. MY TAKE: This measure should have passed a long time ago.

748: Apportionment. If the legislature fails to draw up a district map following a census, a seven-person Apportionment Commission will do so. The commission will have seven members instead of the current three. The Lieutenant Governor will head the commission along with six members appointed by the Governor, House Speaker and Senate president pro-tem. Each must nominate one Democrat and one Republican. MY TAKE: This will help rid Oklahoma of the good-old boy system that’s currently in place.

750: Ballot access. This changes the formula which determines how many signatures are needed to get an initiative or referendum on the ballot. The current formula is a percentage of the number of votes in the last General Election. This proposition changes that so that the formula is based solely on the last Governor's race. This eliminates the increase and decrease in signature requirement every two years based on the fact that many more people vote in presidential years. MY TAKE: The citizens ought to be allowed to bring a measure up for a vote without it being manipulated by bureaucrats. This measure should make it easier for citizen initiatives to move forward.

751: English language. This requires all official actions of the state to be conducted in English. It does not prohibit the use of tribal languages. It also states that no lawsuit based on State law could be brought on the basis of a State agency's failure to use a language other than English. Nor could such a lawsuit be brought against political subdivisions of the State. MY TAKE: This is America so why not make English the official language of this state? Businesses spend thousands on multi-language processes. It should be their decision to do this and not the governments.

752: Judicial Nominating Commission. Increases the Commission by two members. Currently the commission has 12-members: 6 lawyers appointed by the bar Association and 6 non-lawyers appointed by the Governor. This would add two more non-lawyers, one each appointed by the Speaker of the House and President Pro-Tem of the Senate.

753: Workers' Compensation Judges. Changes the law so that the State Senate would have to approve the Governor's selection of a new Worker's Compensation Court judge. The Judicial nominating Commission would still provide the three names that the Governor chooses from. MY TAKE: Workers’ Comp in this state is oppressive, unfair, and is in need of an overhaul, and anything that moves this ball further down the road is ok with me.

754: State spending. Would not allow the Constitution to mandate legislative appropriations based on predetermined formulas, how much other states spend or how much any entity spends on a function. MY TAKE: This measure was added specifically to oppose SQ 744 (the first ballot question on this page). It would make it illegal to force Oklahoma to spend its tax dollars based off of a predetermined formula (or in this case, what other states spend on education).

755: State courts. Would change Constitution to specify that Oklahoma courts can only use state and federal laws to make decisions. It forbids decisions based on international or Sharia law. MY TAKE: This is America, and we should use American laws to rule it. I still can’t believe we need this law but some judges base their rulings on other country’s laws. Unbelievable!

756: Health insurance. States that a person can't be forced to enroll in health insurance and an employer can't be forced to provide health insurance for its workers. It also allows for an individual to pay directly for treatment and for providers to accept payment directly for treatment. MY TAKE: This is Oklahoma’s way of saying no thank you to ObamaCare. It protects your right as a citizen to not be forced to buy anything because the government says you have to.

757: Rainy Day Fund. Increases the amount of money that can be placed in the Constitutional Reserve Fund, also called the Rainy Day Fund. The current maximum is 10% of the previous year's General Fund revenues. This question raises that to 15%. MY TAKE: In the good times, we should be allowed to set back funds for the bad times. This measure increases the maximum our legislature can put into the fund in a single year.

(Note: AG Drew Edmondson is attempting to add/manipulate each of the conservative ballot questions with his own version. Don’t be fooled by his rhetoric. Here are the facts and the actual ballot questions so you can make an honest decision on your own. Just click on the ballot question and read it for yourself. As you read the bills, changes to the law are indicated by a “strike through.” Added verbiage to the law is underlined…FYI)