The Oklahoman:
POINT OF VIEW: Let voters amend state constitution
BY STATE REP. LESLIEOSBORN
Published: March 9, 2009
The looming threat of unfunded mandates could soon leave Oklahoma
with a government that is either limited beyond a libertarian’s wildest
dreams or imposing tax increases so large they would make a socialist
uneasy.
That’s because special-interest groups, such as teachers unions, are
trying to seize permanent control of an ever-larger share of taxpayer
dollars for their own undefined purposes. In the case of the
Oklahoma Education Association,
the group has used the initiative process to ask voters to give up
control of state spending decisions and actually cede that power to
citizens of other states.
How? Their proposal would tie Oklahoma’s education expenditures to the
average of a group of states in the region — effectively giving other
states the ability to make spending decisions for Oklahomans without
our input.
If approved, that measure would shift at least another $850 million,
probably more, from other parts of government to "education,” although
the group doesn’t define the term. Will the extra money be spent on
classroom supplies and teacher salaries, or go to ever-increasing
administrative overhead? The proposal doesn’t say. (Remember: That $850
million will be on top of the $2.5 billion already going to schools.)
The danger represented by unfunded mandates is very real. By requiring
an $850 million shift, the mandate would effectively create a budget
hole the same size as the one now facing Oklahoma. If the mandate is
imposed during a similar recessionary year, the combined budget gap
could total $1.7 billion for all other parts of government. We could
literally wipe out road funding and public safety programs, and still
not cover the gap.
The other option facing legislators under that scenario would be to
increase taxes. But again, during a recession, hiking taxes across the
board — especially if we’re talking about an increase of more than $1
billion overall — would be devastating to all families in the state and
a guaranteed job killer.
That’s why I have filed House Joint Resolution 1014. The resolution
would allow Oklahoma voters to amend our state constitution to prevent
unfunded mandates from forcing draconian cuts in government without
responsible voter oversight of state finances.
It would protect the right of the people to have input into how their
tax dollars are used every year through the legislative process instead
of giving them a one-and-done decision at the polls that would be
locked in for eternity.
Oklahoma’s founders believed the people should always have a voice in
how their tax money was spent, which is why the people were given the
right to choose elected representatives to carry their message to the
Capitol. That right would be forever diluted under a regime of unfunded
mandates such as the OEA measure.
We must protect citizen involvement in and oversight of government spending — and HJR 1014 gives voters that opportunity.
Osborn, R-Tuttle, represents District 47 in the Oklahoma House.
Posted on Mon, March 9, 2009
by Crystal Drwenski