Oklahoma ballot news
From Ballotpedia
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| Propositions • | Recall | • Law |
Here you'll find a collection of ballot news stories from Oklahoma.
1992 measure re-appears in midst of Oklahoma's down economy
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: 5 percent reductions in state agencies have been ordered the past three months due to declining revenues during the current fiscal year. According to the governor's chief budget adviser, those reductions could increase. Among the down economy is the effects of the 1992 measure that Oklahoma voters approved that prohibited legislature from raising taxes without the approval of voters if the increase does not pass 3/4 vote of each legislative body.[1]
If deeper cuts are necessary, lawmakers could choose to raise taxes to keep the cuts at 5 percent, but must do it under the provisions of the measure that was passed 19 years ago.
Tulsa sees three charter amendments pass
TULSA, Oklahoma: The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma saw three charter amendments pass after the November 3, 2009 election results came in. The three charter amendments and their impact follows:[2]
- Proposition 1 requires candidates for city auditor to be certified public accountants or certified internal auditors. 84% voted in favor.
- Proposition 2 rearranges City Council elections so three seats will be on the ballot each year for three-year terms. 56% voted in favor.
- Proposition 3 requires that both the mayor and council approve any claim or lawsuit settlement of $1 million or more. 65% voted in favor.
Judge throws out initiative petition in Oklahoma
TULSA, Oklahoma: An Oklahoma judge ruled on August 24, 2009 that a petition hoping to implement nonpartisan city elections was invalid because not enough signatures were collected. Judge Jefferson Sellers stated that the Tulsa City Clerk’s Office used a wrong election to set the number of required signatures.
City Councilor John Eagleton stated that the petition was miscalculated because election officials used general election requirements where all qualified voters in Tulsa had a chance to cast ballots. According to Eagleton: "I took an oath to defend the city charter, which I thought was being assailed by an unlawfully approved ballot proposition." Tulsans for Better Government, the group who turned in the petition, gathered 6,994 signatures, a lot more than the 3,427 signatures that were previously needed before the ruling.[3]
Two Oklahoma counties approved of sales tax
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: Two Oklahoma counties have approved tax increases that will help build new county jails. The new tax, which will raise sales tax by three-quarters of a cent, was approved by a 3-1 margin in the Oklahoma county of Caddo. Voters in Woodward County approved a five-eighths sales tax as well.
However, in another Oklahoma County, voters in McAlester rejected a similar sales tax proposal. The proposed sales tax would have help pay for improvements to water and sewer systems.[4]
Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry vetoes new signature requirements
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry has vetoed House Bill 2246, a bill that would have increased Oklahoma's restrictive 90 day circulation period to one year and offered petition circulators protection against harassment. Henry argued the law would have stifled the freedom to express opposition.
The veto has been widely criticized by initiative process supporters.[5] According to the Tulsa World, "Brian Downs, executive director of Oklahomans for Responsible Government, says Henry's veto was a "slap to the face of citizens who want to petition their government". Downs says it leaves Oklahoma with one of the nation's highest barriers for getting a measure on the ballot."[6] On their blog, OFRG notes that the bill received "near-unanimous" support in the legislature.[7]
Norma Sapp, Executive Director of Oklahomans for Initiative Rights said that "Governor Henry is out of touch with Oklahomans". [8] That group led a 70 city grassroots tour of the state to raise support for a slate of initiative reforms including HB 2246.[9] “We traveled throughout the state and we heard one message: Let Oklahomans Vote. The citizens want these reforms. The legislature voted for these reforms. Governor Henry has chosen to ignore the voters who elected him and continue making Oklahoma one of the most repressive states in the nation.” said Sapp in a press release.
Blogger Joe Matthews called it a "Bad Veto in Oklahoma" and called Gov. Henry's veto message an "interesting argument, and it may be a cynical one." and said that "In effect, his veto is an attempt to defend blocking campaigns, and puts the governor on the side of those who would limit access to the ballot."[10]
Oklahoma 2010 ballot keeps growing
TULSA, Oklahoma: Four measures have made it to the Oklahoma 2010 ballot, with more potentially on the way. The measures approved for the ballot include the following:
- Oklahoma HOPE Ballot Initiative
- Oklahoma Term Limits Initiative (2010)
- Oklahoma Voter Identification Measure (2010)
- Oklahoma Reapportionment Commission Measure (2010)
- Oklahoma Senate Joint Resolution 13
In addition, the legislature is considering measures to counter the HOPE initiative, conduct all official business in English, and divert a portion of the tobacco settlement.[11]
See also
References
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