The Oklahoman, NewsOK
Published: October 17, 2010 Modified: October 18, 2010 at 8:43 am
SQ 744: School funding; vote no
No state question is more critical or would be more damaging upon passage. The measure proposes to base common education funding on education spending in six surrounding states. Spending could not be reduced even if spending in the other states falls. The proposed calculation limits the ability of lawmakers to budget and make spending decisions. The question mandates no reform or extraordinary accountability, despite conservative estimates that it could eventually cost more than $1 billion annually, forcing a tax increase, cuts in other state services or both.
SQ 746: Voter ID; vote yes
SQ 746 is a practical, proactive approach to preventing voter fraud on a small and large scale. If approved, every person appearing to vote will have to provide simple proof of identity. Those who can't would be allowed to vote via a "provisional" ballot. Passage would make Oklahoma one of 22 states that require some form of ID to exercise the privilege of voting.
SQ 747: Statewide office term limits; vote no
The question would impose two terms of four years each for governor, lieutenant governor, insurance commissioner, schools superintendent, labor commissioner, attorney general, treasurer and state auditor. Corporation commissioners would be limited to two terms of six years each.
Partial terms would not count against the limit; existing service would only count against the governor. Oklahomans like term limits. They aren't necessarily a bad idea for statewide officeholders. But it takes the six statewide officials outside the governor and lieutenant governor's offices a great deal of time to become experts at running their respective areas of state government.
To automatically force them out of a job after two terms doesn't make sense and could make state government less efficient and less effective. That's especially true considering lawmakers also face limited terms although even they are allowed 12 years. Voters already can toss statewide officials every four years.
FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Sun, October 17, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski