I love the fall for many reasons (weather, sports, school, clothing) but one of them is election time. It reminds citizens to pay attention to what is happening locally and nationally. There is more awareness of current issues and political leaders. I have had a few people ask me to post about our local state questions and local candidates. Here is my first attempt at the state questions.
State Question 744: The measure requires the state legislature to set a minimum average the state must spend on each student.
Yes on 744: makes OK more competitive with other state's per student spending, could help prevent teacher layoffs, could improve technology and textbooks, could help set higher teacher standards,
No on 744: No funding mechanism (estimated $850 million cost), pulled from other agencies, nothing in 744 mandating money spent on students/classroom.
My Take: If you couldn't tell already, I am currently against SQ 744. I fully endorse spending more money, time and effort on the education of our kids. It is embarrassing how poorly Oklahoma ranks overall (spending and scores). We have to do better. HOWEVER, this is not the way. What happened to the lottery funding a better education? How are we doing worse off, when passing the lottery was the answer to all of our educational woes! And who is helping fund the Yes on 744? Teacher's unions! Because they know that 85% of the lottery money intended for education goes to salaries from the top (administrators) trickling down to the bottom (teachers). Teachers need to be paid better, but just like I was opposed to the lottery, I don't trust our state government to actually spend the new "windfall" on the kids, their classrooms, books, and technology.
SQ 746: Photo ID required to vote.
My Take: Yes on 746. Carrying a photo ID is not difficult, most voting aged adults do so on a constant daily basis. This would hopefully prevent voter fraud, illegals voting, and keep the system more honest.
SQ 747: TERM LIMITS! Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer, Treasurer, Commissioner of Labor, Auditor and Inspector, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Insurance Commissioner: 8 years each. Corporation Commissioner: 12 year limit.
My Take: YES!!!!! Absolutely YES!!!! I have been begging for this at a national level, so lets start small then move onward and upward. I am a huge advocate for having term limits on State and Federal Congressmen and Senators. If this is one small step in that direction, count me in!
SQ 748: Requiring Legislature to make an apportionment after each 10 year federal census. If not, a Apportionment Commission must do so.
My Take: Yes. It makes sense to re-figure apportionment every 10 years, communities change, develop new areas, dwindle in others. As of right now, I will vote Yes for required updated apportionment.
SQ 750: Changing required voter signatures on Initiatives and Referendums. It lowers the required percentage voter signature requirements.
My Take: Yes. I don't want initiatives and referendums to be easily created to blow with every changing wind in society, however I am afraid that these next few years we will need as little red tape and hoops to jump through to undo or prevent what the President and the federal government have been and are pushing through.
SQ 751: State's "official actions" will be written in English and no law suit could force a state agency to use a language other than English.
My Take: YES! This is a small step towards an "official state language". I am in favor of having a national language, just like majority of other countries throughout the world. Why should the state have to translate their "official actions", such as laws, into a variety of other languages? If you are drawn to the United States for our freedoms and opportunities, you should be willing to speak the language, and not force companies, schools and the government to accommodate you.
SQ 752: Adding two "At large" Judicial Nominating Commission members, nominated by Senate President Pro Tempore and Speaker of the house and the Governor.
My Take: Yes. Much of what I've read, suggests the point of this law is to "dilute the influence lawyers have on the selection list" of possible Supreme Court nominees. Why not?
SQ 754: Appropriations will not be determined by "predetermined constitutional formulas, how much other states spend, or how much any entity spends". Also, the measure could not be effectively amended or repealed.
My Take: No. This was written largely in opposition in SQ 744. If 744 passed, our Education funding would be partially determined by other states funding, which if passed 754 prevents. Formulas are occasionally necessary. Although I would agree that our state's budget shouldn't be determined by other state's budgets, I find anything that is set in stone dangerous. Without the ability to amend or repeal, this could be a powerful referendum with the consequences completely unknown.
SQ 755: Makes courts rely on state and federal laws, and forbids courts from considering or using international law when deciding cases.
My Take: No. While researching this issue, it was difficult to find a "No on 755" supporter. I was blasted with "Stop Sharia Law!" websites, however there was much more to the wording than just prohibiting a religious legal system. It forbids courts from considering international law, which includes international states, organizations, companies, etc. This could (and most likely will) deter foreign companies from doing business in Oklahoma, could make international marriage certificates invalid, etc. For a great legal analysis on why to vote No on SQ 755 go HERE
SQ 756: Prohibits forcing a person, employer, to participate in a "health care system", prohibits forcing a health care provider provide treatment in a health care system, allows persons/employees to pay for treatment directly, and provider to accept payment directly, allows purchase and sales in private health care systems.
My Take: Hell yes! (Currently repenting for my profanity, my apologies!) This shuts down almost every aspect of the ridiculous Health Care bill that the federal government enacted. It protects our employers from participating in and being punished by the federal governments take over, as well as individual citizens. It follows the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution that states "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people." Oklahoma needs to say NO!
SQ 757: Increases the "Rainy Day Fund" created by the surplus revenue from the current 10% to 15%.
My Take: Yes. If we have the ability to have a 5% larger "Rainy Day" fund, we should do it. Families should also follow the same actions, and increase what they put into their own rainy day funds.
Hopefully that helps you Okies who read this blog. The rest of you, are probably as overwhelmed as I was when I saw our long list, so good luck! I am working on our state candidates as well, but wanted to take a little more time researching that. Here is the Oklahoma State Election Board's website if you want more info.
