Published: November 08, 2006 12:56 pm      

Words from Winchester

In addition to a large slate of state wide officials including the Governor, Lt. Governor, State Treasurer, State Insurance Commissioner, State Superintendent of Schools, Labor Commissioner and one of the three Corporation Commission positions, four State Questions will be on the November 7 ballot.

State Question 724 is the result of a 2004 incident during which a sitting legislator was arrested following an altercation in Oklahoma City . The legislator pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of outraging public decency but was allowed to continue receiving his legislative salary.

While state law automatically calls for suspension of a pubic official convicted of a felony, the law does not include misdemeanor charges and did not prevent the legislator from continuing to draw a legislative salary while in jail.

The State Question, if approved would prohibit any legislator jailed for any criminal offense and subsequently found guilty of a crime, to reimburse the state for their state salary.

State Question 725 would allow the Contingency Review Board to request funds from the State’s Rainy Day Fund to be used for at-risk manufacturers. Expenditures would be limited to $10 million and would be based on the manufactures investment in their own business. There are also a variety of restrictions in place to protect the Fund. If approved, the questions could allow manufacturers to continue to remain in business and in Oklahoma .

Sale of alcoholic beverages is the topic of State Question 733. A prohibition against election day sales of alcohol were written into Oklahoma ’s constitution in 1959 following repeal of prohibition.

Proponents of the legislation argued that with passage of county liquor by the drink laws, drinks can be served in many restraunts and bars on election days but could not be sold at retail stores. Retailers favor passage of the question citing loss of sales as well as loss of sales tax revenue.

Finally, State Question 734 amends the Constitution by providing for an exemption from property taxes. The exemption applies to goods that are shipped into the state but which do not remain in the state for more than 90 days.

Often known as the Freeport Exemption, the law if passed, would allow a deadline to be established for application for an ad valorum exemption on products shipped into Oklahoma but not kept past the 90 day limit and allow better management of county budgets.

If you would like additional information on the four questions, you can access www.okhouse.gov and click on 2006 State Questions or call my office, 557-7333 and we will send you additional reading materials.

Only a few days remain before the next general election. Please remember that one vote can make all of the difference in determining an election.