The Journal Record
By Tim Talley Associated Press
Posted: 05:10 PM Thursday, April 8, 2010
OKLAHOMA CITY – A coalition of business and labor groups said Thursday it will work to defeat a ballot initiative to dramatically increase spending on public education that coalition members said would devastate the budgets of many other state services and possibly force tax increases.
Members of the One Oklahoma Coalition, comprised of chambers of commerce, the union representing state workers and other groups, said they support public education but that the Helping Oklahoma Public Education initiative petition would force the state to spend more on public schools while cutting funding for other state agencies.
“We know that we need a well-educated work force,” said Fred Morgan, president and CEO of The State Chamber of Oklahoma. But 41 percent of the state’s budget is already dedicated to elementary and secondary public education, and spending more would erode funding for colleges and universities, vocational-technical schools and other services, he said.
“This is the wrong way to do this,” Morgan said. “We think working together is the best way to improve Oklahoma.”... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Thu, April 8, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski