Weekly Opinion Editorial
YES ‘EM BOTH!
by Steve Fair
Oklahoma was the first state in the United States to include in its state constitution the right for citizens to circumvent the legislature and amend the state constitution. Since Oklahoma became a state in 1907, 116 citizen-initiated ballot measures have appeared on the ballot. The legislature regularly raises the number of signatures needed to get a state question on the ballot. The number of signatures needed to get on the ballot is now 15% of the number of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election.
The second way and the most common way state questions get on the ballot is a legislative joint resolution. Joint resolutions bypass the need for an initiative petition and refers state questions directly to voters. They do not require the signature of the governor.
Oklahomans will be voting on two state questions on August 25th- SQ#844 and SQ$846. Here is the scoop on both:
Oklahoma State Question 844 is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. Authored by Oklahoma Speaker of the House Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) and Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, (R-Tuttle), HJR 1987 passed the House 69-22 and the Senate 38-7. If approved, SQ #844 would alter how Oklahoma state government reimburses local governments and school districts for revenues lost due to the statewide five-year property tax exemption for manufacturing plants. It would amend article 10, section 6B of the Oklahoma Constitution.
Currently, the State must reimburse common schools, county governments, cities and towns, emergency medical services districts, vocational technical schools, junior colleges, county health departments and libraries for revenues lost as a result of each exemption provided. Those exemptions have become expensive according to Paxton. In 2024, the state paid $93 million in reimbursement.
Right now, there could be a manufacturing company about to move into Oklahoma and we know nothing about it. Then all of a sudden, we get hit with a very large property tax reimbursement that we have to absorb that takes away from other things,” Paxton says.
Critics of SQ#844 claim it would eliminate the guaranteed constitutional protection for schools and emergency service funding that has been around for 41 years. They don't want the legislature to decide how much revenue- if any- local entities would receive.
Giving duly elected legislators power to control reimbursements will provide more transparency and accountability to the process. Voters should approve SQ#844.
Oklahoma State Question#846 is a legislatively referred constitutional amendment. Authored by Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, (R-Tuttle) and eight House members, SJR 47 passed the House 78-15 and the Senate 39-8. If approved, SQ846 would amend the state constitution to mirror current state law, which requires voters to show identification at their polling location before they vote.
Proponents argue placing the rule in the constitution "sets it in stone" so that a future Legislature cannot easily eliminate voter ID rules without a direct vote from citizens. Critics argue the amendment is redundant because a voter ID law is already active.
Voters should approve SQ#846. It's just common sense to verify who is voting is who they say they are. Making it harder for cheaters is never a bad idea.
Because SQ#844 and SQ#846 are statewide ballot measures, all registered voters in Oklahoma are eligible to vote on them, regardless of political party affiliation.
On August 25th, voters should yes 'em both!
On August 25th, YES 'EM BOTH!Click the headline to read this full article, On August 25th, YES 'EM BOTH!, at FAIR AND BIASED
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