Do you want a tax increase?
Our state is dealing with massive cuts to state agencies right now, due to the
economy, before we even consider what SQ 744 would add to the problem.
Unless we want to cut every agency at least another 20% the only option is
tax increases. To fund the question it would take one of two options:
1. Individual Income Tax increase of 32%
or
2. State Sales Tax increase of 37%
I can't imagine asking the public to go for that.........................can you?
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
SQ 744 FACT OF THE WEEK
According to Commissioner Terry White of the Dept. of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services
if SQ 744 is passed it will mean a $40 million reduction to her department. There are currently
600-900 people on waiting lists for residential substance abuse help.......the wait and the number of people waiting would increase dramatically. Thousands of Oklahoman's would lose their community support services, become more acutely ill, lose their jobs, drop out of school, and no longer lead productive lives because of this potential cut.
if SQ 744 is passed it will mean a $40 million reduction to her department. There are currently
600-900 people on waiting lists for residential substance abuse help.......the wait and the number of people waiting would increase dramatically. Thousands of Oklahoman's would lose their community support services, become more acutely ill, lose their jobs, drop out of school, and no longer lead productive lives because of this potential cut.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
SQ 744 FACT OF THE WEEK
The Hypocrisy!
Did you know that the way the teachers labor union worded this state question.........
if our 6 surrounding states average per student expenditures go up, our spending
is mandated to go up..........if their averages go down, ours don't, they have to stay the same!
Did you know that the way the teachers labor union worded this state question.........
if our 6 surrounding states average per student expenditures go up, our spending
is mandated to go up..........if their averages go down, ours don't, they have to stay the same!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
SQ 744 FACT OF THE WEEK
According to Neville Massey of the Department of Corrections
If State Question 744 passes we can expect 2 things from
the Oklahoma prison sytem...............
**Up to 8400 early prisoner releases(there are not enough
prisoners in minimum security to reach this number)
**Up to 9 state prison closures(and the ripple effect of that
in those small Oklahoma towns)
If State Question 744 passes we can expect 2 things from
the Oklahoma prison sytem...............
**Up to 8400 early prisoner releases(there are not enough
prisoners in minimum security to reach this number)
**Up to 9 state prison closures(and the ripple effect of that
in those small Oklahoma towns)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
SQ 744 - A catastrophe for working Oklahoman's
In November 2010, Oklahoma voters will decide the fate of State Question 744, which would tie Oklahoma's common education funding to a regional average set by lawmakers in other states.
If approved, SQ 744 would require spending at least $850 million more for common education per year, on top of the $2.5 billion provided this year.
Because the ballot question does not explain how to provide that additional funding, I requested a legislative study to explore the issue in depth.
If SQ 744 is approved, an analysis by non-partisan fiscal staff shows it will require increasing the income tax rate 34% or the state sales tax rate 38%.
The only other option is to cut spending across the board in all areas of government, except for common education, by as much as 20%.
As a small-government conservative, I am certainly not opposed to spending cuts, but I also believe government should do a few core jobs and do them well. Unfortunately, SQ 744 could imperil even the most basic functions of government.
* Experts predicted the potential cuts at the Department of Transportation could ultimately
strip $395 million from road programs.
* At the Department of Safety, up to one half of state troopers could be laid off.
*At the Department of Corrections, the cuts could require cl0sing up to nine state prison
facilities and releasing as many as 8,400 criminals onto the streets.
*College students could face tuition increases of as much as 33% to make up for potential
SQ 744 budget cuts.
Worse yet, SQ 744 would provide no clear benefit to school children. The ballot question does not specify how the extra money will be used. When Kansas attempted a similar measure, they nearly doubled spending, but saw little improvement in student performance. In 1997/98, Kansas spent more than $6,828 per student and roughly two out of three students were not proficient in reading according to national tests. Ten years later, Kansas spent $12,188 per student, yet two out of three children were still not proficient in reading.
Oklahoman's have long supported our schools, but can Oklahoma afford to fund this initiative, proposed by the teacher's labor union, at the high cost of punitive tax hikes on working families during a recession? Because of our state's balanced budget amendment the alternative would be to early release thousands of criminals onto our streets and end the repair of crumbling bridges.
More money poured into a system is not always the answer. Sometimes the answer requires restructuring, administrative changes, and results based plans.
The OEA believes that natural growth of the state's economy would pay for this measure. However, fiscal experts disagree, as potential state growth is met with inflation in all areas of state government spending. State Question 744 is an unfunded mandate on the citizens of our state, and I urge voters to weigh the consequences before going to the ballot box.
If approved, SQ 744 would require spending at least $850 million more for common education per year, on top of the $2.5 billion provided this year.
Because the ballot question does not explain how to provide that additional funding, I requested a legislative study to explore the issue in depth.
If SQ 744 is approved, an analysis by non-partisan fiscal staff shows it will require increasing the income tax rate 34% or the state sales tax rate 38%.
The only other option is to cut spending across the board in all areas of government, except for common education, by as much as 20%.
As a small-government conservative, I am certainly not opposed to spending cuts, but I also believe government should do a few core jobs and do them well. Unfortunately, SQ 744 could imperil even the most basic functions of government.
* Experts predicted the potential cuts at the Department of Transportation could ultimately
strip $395 million from road programs.
* At the Department of Safety, up to one half of state troopers could be laid off.
*At the Department of Corrections, the cuts could require cl0sing up to nine state prison
facilities and releasing as many as 8,400 criminals onto the streets.
*College students could face tuition increases of as much as 33% to make up for potential
SQ 744 budget cuts.
Worse yet, SQ 744 would provide no clear benefit to school children. The ballot question does not specify how the extra money will be used. When Kansas attempted a similar measure, they nearly doubled spending, but saw little improvement in student performance. In 1997/98, Kansas spent more than $6,828 per student and roughly two out of three students were not proficient in reading according to national tests. Ten years later, Kansas spent $12,188 per student, yet two out of three children were still not proficient in reading.
Oklahoman's have long supported our schools, but can Oklahoma afford to fund this initiative, proposed by the teacher's labor union, at the high cost of punitive tax hikes on working families during a recession? Because of our state's balanced budget amendment the alternative would be to early release thousands of criminals onto our streets and end the repair of crumbling bridges.
More money poured into a system is not always the answer. Sometimes the answer requires restructuring, administrative changes, and results based plans.
The OEA believes that natural growth of the state's economy would pay for this measure. However, fiscal experts disagree, as potential state growth is met with inflation in all areas of state government spending. State Question 744 is an unfunded mandate on the citizens of our state, and I urge voters to weigh the consequences before going to the ballot box.
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