Perhaps due to a gubernatorial debate Oct. 20 in Edmond, there were only a handful of attendees at a state question forum in Midwest City with local legislators that same evening. Nevertheless, Sen. Cliff Aldridge (R-Midwest City), Rep. Gary Banz (R-Midwest City) and Rep. Charlie Joyner (R-Midwest City) fielded questions and concerns about the 11 state questions that will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot. The event was sponsored by the Midwest City Chamber of Commerce.

The state question that has garnered the most attention deals with repealing a section of the State Constitution that requires the state legislature to annually spend $42 for each common school student, defined as kindergarten through 12th grade. The measure would add a new article to the Constitution to set a minimum average the state must spend annually on common schools. The amount would be no less than the regional average spent on each student in the six states bordering Oklahoma.

Proponents of State Question 744 say Oklahoma has fallen behind on spending for common education students and must catch up to at least the regional average to ensure every child receives a quality education. Opponents cite that something needs to be done, but with no funding mechanism built into the question, they claim it would rob every state agency of needed funds to meet the education threshold.

If passed, the measure would require increased spending beginning the first fiscal year after passage to meet the surrounding states' average in the third fiscal year after passage.

"That's a very controversial question," Aldridge said, citing what he said would be an estimated $1 billion to $1.7 billion increase in funding. "People will say, 'Where's the money coming from?' The money will come from cuts to all the other agencies."

Aldridge said some estimates show that agencies around the state could each see a 20 percent cut in funding, including the Department of Education.

"That's where we'll have to come up with the funding to pay for that," Aldridge said.

RAISING AWARENESS
The legislators each said something needs to be done to better fund education, but called SQ 744, "bad public policy." Banz, a retired Mid-Del Schools teacher, said despite whether or not it passes, the issue increases awareness for the need to spend more on education.

"I have not heard of anybody who is opposed to 744 who is not aware that we need to do some things to create more funding for common ed(ucation) and free up some dollars," Banz said. "The fact that this is on the ballot will elevate that. It's a win-win."

Banz also countered claims made by proponents of the state question that legislators and government fat cats would further benefit and rake in perks if the question does not pass. Banz said that's just not so. Legislators are paid $38,400 per year, determined by a compensation board, with the speaker of the House and the Senate president pro tempore receiving additional compensation.

Aldridge said while legislators have been portrayed by proponents of the state question as riding around in private jets and in limousines, he said he has not set foot in either as a legislator. The only perk he receives is health insurance.

The state question is the only one of the 11 that came about by an initiative petition from the people. All of the others are legislative referendums.
"That is the only question that came from the people to be acted upon," Banz said.    

Also on the ballot is another measure, State Question 754, which would negate SQ 744. If both pass, Aldridge said the one with the highest percentage of passage would take precedence.

FLIP THE BALLOT
Banz fears many voters won't get past SQ 744, the first on the ballot, and read and vote on all 11 questions. With lengthy wording on each one, Banz said, after voting for candidates, many people flip over the ballot to find the state questions and suffer from what he called, "voter fatigue."

"A lot of people will say, 'There is no way I'm reading through all that,'" he said. "They may vote on 744 since it's the first one. A lot of people won't even get to 754, so 744 is more likely to pass."

Another state question that participants wanted more information about was State Question 755, which would forbid state courts from using international law or Islamic Sharia Law when deciding cases.

Aldridge said both forms of law have come up in other state courts, but could cite no example or any judge or court in Oklahoma that has attempted to use international law or Islamic law when deciding a case.

All three candidates are incumbents, and each faces a Democratic challenger in the Nov. 2 general election.

photo Sen. Cliff Aldridge (left; R, Midwest City) and Rep. Charlie Joyner (R, Midwest City) discuss upcoming ballot measures.  Photo/Kelley Chambers