Restore T.R.U.S.T.

SQ 744’s effect challenged

Three contenders for governor agreed Tuesday that passage of State Question 744 by voters would have devastating consequences. Attorney General Drew Edmondson and Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, both Democrats, and state Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, said after a forum at Oklahoma City Community College they oppose the measure that voters will decide this year. U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City, who also is running for governor did not attend because she was in Washington.

"I haven’t heard anything that would convince me to be in favor it,” Edmondson said of the state question. Askins said the measure is "well-intentioned, but it has consequences far beyond what the promoters believe. It will cause some problems.” The measure would require legislators to fund education, on a per-student basis, equal to the regional average. Based on current figures, that would result in common education receiving an additional $850 million a year.