Some people were surprised. Others were aware, but uninformed. They vowed to read up on the state questions before election day. I was surprised to hear so many people were willing to do that.

But that doesn’t mean everybody will.  Lee Slater, an attorney who served as the state Election Board secretary for nearly a decade, says the longer the ballot, the less people are likely to vote.

So for the average voter…the advice is this: Know what’s on the ballot. The widely debated SQ 744 is the first question on the ballot. The last question on the ballot is a measure that increases the amount of money the state must save in its Rainy Day Fund.

Read in between those and decide whether voters should have to present identification to vote, or if English should be the state’s official language. And don’t forget the “opt out question.”  Supporters of this question like to call it the “Obama Care bill.” One supporter  said if the question had Obamacare in it, more people would vote against it.

Here’s a video from our trip to the State Fair.

http://www.newsok.com/multimedia/video/616399774001

And here is an editorial we ran in August discussing some of the state questions.  Read up. Take a cheat sheet…and don’t forget the reading glasses.

A crowded November ballot will be stuffed to overflowing in Oklahoma thanks to the inclusion of a whopping 11 state questions. We can be thankful it’s not worse — one question intended for the ballot got pulled after legislators hashed things out among themselves.

There were nine state questions on the ballot six years ago, including biggies dealing with the lottery, expansion of electronic gaming and a tobacco tax. That was a presidential election year, which helped drive turnout; this slate of questions will compete for voters’ attention along with every major statewide race, from governor to labor commissioner, along with legislative and local races.

This package of questions includes some heavyweight topics, too. The heaviest is State Question 744, an attempt by the state‘s largest teachers union to tie Oklahoma’s education funding to a regional per-pupil average. This odious proposal would have a devastating impact on the state budget without the promise of any reform. Our guess is voters will be keenly attuned to this issue by the time Nov. 2 arrives.

They can be forgiven if they do nothing but yawn at four of the questions, which are little more than ideological benders. These are state questions 751, 754, 755 and 756.

SQ 751 would amend the state constitution to require that all official state actions be conducted in English. Thirty other states have declared English their official language; adding Oklahoma to the list wouldn’t exactly be something to brag about.

SQ 754 is an attempt to make SQ 744 moot, if it passes. It would amend our constitution to forbid legislative appropriations based on spending in other states. However, there’s a good chance some of the language in this question is unconstitutional and thus would itself be rendered moot someday.

SQ 755 would prohibit Oklahoma courts from using international or Sharia law when deciding cases. We’re not making this up. Never mind that judges in Oklahoma are now already bound to follow state and federal precedent. In the view of those ideologues who placed this question on the ballot, you can’t be too careful.

SQ 756 would allow Oklahoma to reject any law or rule that requires a person, employer or health care provider to take part in a health care system. This was Republican legislators’ response to passage this year of President Obama’s health care plan although the question indicates federal law might pre-empt the state law even if the state question is approved.

Given the tenor of the times, it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising if all four of these questions passed easily. Of course that’s provided voters have the stamina to make it all the way to the end of the ballot.

Non-profit groups must file 990′s which include an organizations income, expenses and information about employee salaries. Tax documents for 2009 for the group did not include an updated list of employees or the salaries for all the employees.

After questions from the media, spokesman Peter J. Rudy says it was an oversight by accountants who prepared the 990s. Rudy said the group plans to file updated information with the IRS that includes salaries and employee listings.

The omitted salaries were:

In a post on their Web site today, Yes on 744 questioned expenses incurred by OFRG, saying it’s clear the group is spending money to oppose the state question that seeks to set the per pupil expenditure for students in Oklahoma based on the regional average of per pupil spending in surrounding states.

State ethics laws require a committee spending money to campaign for a ballot measure to register and report expenditures if it’s more than $5,000.

Brian Downs, executive director of the non-profit group, says the group is aware of the rules and plans to comply, if necessary.

In an emailed statement, Downs said:

“OFRG is very mindful of our obligations to follow ethics rules and we believe that we are in full compliance. Our expenditures for State Question 744 have not exceeded $5,000 to date. If that threshold should be reached, we will follow all applicable laws. We also believe that it is unfortunate that the Yes on 744 campaign is spending so much time and money trying to smear our organization at a time when their message is not resonating with voters.”

OFRG is soliciting donations on the Stop State Question 744 website.

A copy of documents filed with the IRS for 2009 show that non-profit group is registered as a 501(c) (4) non-profit taxpayer advocacy organization. Under federal law, that type of non-profit organization can engage in lobbying and campaigning if it’s for the overall good, according to the IRS.  Promoting overall good does not include,  ”direct or indirect participation or intervention in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. However, a section 501(c)(4) social welfare organization may engage in some political activities, so long as that is not its primary activity.”

The organization, who has evaluated school district web sites in the past based on information available to the public, says in tax filings that it’s mission is to  ”limit the growth of government by educating voters on policy issues, advocate for policy solutions and lobby for the principles of individual liberty and free markets, while working to build support for those policies among key constituencies.”

The group received $337,442 in 2009, the most recent figures on file. It’s IRS filings did not include the source of the income.

In a release sent out today by the Yes on 744 camp, the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, the Interfaith Alliance of Oklahoma, Jewish Federation of Oklahoma City, Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Sac and Fox Nation were among the groups supporting the state question.

More than a dozen and educated related associations are also supporting the state question that requires the state to spend the same as other states in their per pupil expenditure. Only two states, Idaho and Utah spend less on education, per student, according to a report from National Center for Education Statistics. The regional average for per-pupil spending in the six states that surround Oklahoma is $9,147. In the 2008 school year, Oklahoma spent $7,683, according to figures from the National Center for Education Statistics.

“We are pleased that so many different groups from around the state of Oklahoma have decided to support this important initiative to help Oklahoma’s kids and schools,” said Michael Kolenc, campaign manager for the YES on 744 coalition. “This coalition represents Oklahomans from all walks of life who believe Oklahoma’s children deserve good, high quality schools. ”

Opponents of the question, which includes the One Oklahoma Coalition, say the question gives budget controls to other states and would break the state’s bank. The Oklahoma Policy Institute, an independent think tank, estimates that increasing funding to education would cost more than a $1 billion over the three years the increased funding plan is phased in. Three economists this week said passage of the state question could mean other state services are cut back.

The One Oklahoma Coalition includes businesses, chambers of commerce in Oklahoma and Tulsa. The president of The State Chamber, Fred Morgan, is the chairman of the committee opposing the ballot measure.

SQ 744 is one of 11 questions that will be on the ballot in November.

Here’s the total list of supporters in the release today:

He doesn’t look so at ease as Coyne does while floating on the heads of concert goers, but still a nice perk of the job right?

Henry has some history with the trippy rock band from Oklahoma City. In an online contest promoting an exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center on rock music last year, voters  named the Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize,” as the state rock song. Some lawmakers objected to a resolution naming the song the official state rock song because of the band members wore a T-shirt bearing a symble associated with the Communist Party while at the State Capitol when the resolution was passed by the Senate. Henry later issued an executive order to declare the song as the state’s rock song.

Not to be confused with Rep. Sally Kern, who most people might think of when they hear the name Sally in state government.

Sally’s List is a new venture that seeks to recruit female progressives and help get them elected in 2012. It’s named after Sally Rae Merkle Mock, an Oklahoma City attorney who was an advocate for women’s rights.  She died suddenly in 2009 from a brain aneurysm.  Sally’s List board member Sara Jane Rose says the group wants to focus on improving the lives of women and children in Oklahoma. The group also supports abortion rights measures, but that’s not their only issue, Rose said.

The Sally’s List organizers say they want to attract young men and women to help add females to Oklahoma’s Legislature. The group will host a Happy Hour on Thursday at VZD’s in Oklahoma City from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  A similar event is being organized in Tulsa.

Oklahoma has 17 female legislators among the 149 serving in the House of Representatives and in the Senate. Five women are in the 48-member Senate and 12 are in the 101-member House. Oklahoma’s percentage of female legislators is 11.4 percent, slightly more than South Carolina’s 10 percent.

Reynolds called the press conference Thursday afternoon to say the audit would not contain specific information about bid splitting and other allegations.

Burrage called Reynolds a liar and arrogant.

Hear a portion of the press conference.

A lively campaign for governor and the Republican nomination for governor may have increased interest in elections and could help get more people to the polls.

Here’s the story from McNutt.

And don’t forget, you can vote early today until 6 p.m.

The appointment was made while Senators were on a July 4 break. Normally the appointment would have to be approved the Senate.

“He (President Obama) will never get it through,” said Coburn, who often reminds town hall audiences that he and the President are personal friends. “He won’t make it because he believes in a socialist health care system…We’re not going to put somebody in charge of Medicare that’s for rationing the care of seniors in this country.”

]]> http://blog.newsok.com/politics/2010/07/07/coburn-weighs-in-obamas-recess-appointment/feed/ 3 http://blog.newsok.com/politics/2010/06/17/palin-endorses-fallin-on-facebook/ http://blog.newsok.com/politics/2010/06/17/palin-endorses-fallin-on-facebook/#comments Fri, 18 Jun 2010 03:05:48 +0000 Julie Bisbee http://blog.newsok.com/politics/?p=2569 Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has thrown her support behind U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin for Oklahoma governor.

Palin made the announcement this evening on her Facebook page, in post that details the hard work of the mama grizzlies fishing in the river. Palin called Fallin a “liberty-loving mama grizzly.”

Mary Fallin is another strong, smart conservative who I am proud to support. Mary is running for Governor of Oklahoma, and the Sooner State is fortunate to have her offer to serve in this new capacity.

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]]> Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has thrown her support behind U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin for Oklahoma governor.

Palin made the announcement this evening on her Facebook page, in post that details the hard work of the mama grizzlies fishing in the river. Palin called Fallin a “liberty-loving mama grizzly.”

Mary Fallin is another strong, smart conservative who I am proud to support. Mary is running for Governor of Oklahoma, and the Sooner State is fortunate to have her offer to serve in this new capacity. Mary’s another fiscal conservative with policy experience, political backbone, and real world knowledge that will serve the entire state well as she proves her mettle as Oklahoma’s next CEO. Her personal, professional, and political background gives her a healthy perspective on the challenges facing so many of our families and businesses. …

Fallin, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, announced the backing on her Twitter page. Wonder if Palin will make a stop in Oklahoma to campaign for Fallin? Palin for Fallin, it has a nice rhyming ring to it.

Fallin has been active with the Tea Party group, appearing at rallies and other events in the past year. Seems like the Republican race for the gubernatorial nomination will likely come down to name recognition and who can out conservative the other.

Several informal polls of would-be voters show Fallin in the lead of Sen. Randy Brogdon, another Republican seeking the nomination. Brogdon has been preaching views similar to the Tea Party values before the tea was even brewed.

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