State Budget Will Be Saved from State Question 744 Under Proposed Ballot Measure
For Immediate Release
March 4, 2009
Contact: Peter J. Rudy, Communications Director
Oklahomans for Responsible Government
(405) 606-6565
E-mail: press@ofrg.org
State Budget Will Be Saved from State Question 744 Under Proposed Ballot Measure
Prevents lawmakers in other states determining how Oklahoma’s money is spent.
(Oklahoma City, OK) Oklahomans for Responsible Government (OFRG) applauds the state House of Representatives for passing House Joint Resolution 1014 which will let voters decide if lawmakers in Oklahoma should keep control of the state’s budget. The resolution would prohibit any formula being used to calculate state expenditures that is based on what other states are spending.
“State Question 744 takes education spending out of the hands of state lawmakers and puts it into the hands of those in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas,” said Brian Downs, OFRG Executive Director. “I commend Representative Osborn for sponsoring this legislation and recognizing the irresponsible approach to force Oklahoma taxpayers to base education spending on what lawmakers in other states spend, especially when the state is already facing a 612-million dollar budget shortfall.”
If the so-called HOPE Initiative were in effect right now, that budget shortfall would be even larger because the state would have to spend another 850-million dollars on education, taking money away from roads, health care and public safety, the other ‘top budget priorities’ of Governor Henry besides education.
“We are glad to see the House take this action and encourage the Senate to do the same, so voters can have their say on whether their tax dollars should be spent by Oklahoma lawmakers or those outside the state,” said Downs.
###
Oklahomans for Responsible Government is a 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to promoting fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability in state government. For more information, please visit www.ofrg.org.