GTR News
Updated 10-25-2010
The Tulsa Metro Chamber, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, and the State Chamber of Oklahoma are working with the One Oklahoma Coalition to defeat SQ 744. In a very revealing move, Gov. Brad Henry is serving as honorary chairman of the Vote NO campaign. Furthermore, both gubernatorial candidates, U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin ® and Lt. Gov. Jari Askins (D), have publicly opposed SQ 744.
State Question 744 is a constitutional amendment which places Oklahoma’s state budget in the hands of surrounding states by requiring common education to be funded at the regional average. This constitutional amendment allows the actions of other states to set the budget in Oklahoma.
According to the Oklahoma Policy Institute, funding per-pupil spending to the regional average would cost more than $1 billion in the first three years, and one-billion dollars or more each year thereafter. Opposition literature says that there are only three ways to fund such a significant increase: dramatically raise taxes, cut spending in all other areas of government, or a combination of both. The amendment would not allow for a tough economy, nor does it replace funding for transportation, public safety, health care, and higher education.
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Posted on
Mon, October 25, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski