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Thursday, August 24, 2006
"Oklahomans for Responsible Government" press release:
Oklahoma Business, Labor, Civic, Advocacy, Healthcare,
Education, and Community Leaders join together
Oklahoma City – Today, faced with a possible vote on State Question 726, known as TABOR, leaders from across the state joined together to announce the “Oklahomans for Responsible Government” ballot committee. The committee is focused on defeating the failed, misguided TABOR initiative promoted by out-of-state interests.
“While we are hopeful that the court will strike down SQ 726, we understand that we need to be ready as a precaution,” stated Campaign Co-chair Marlin (Ike) Glass, Jr. “The formation of this committee is a clear statement that Oklahomans are coming together united to defeat this issue,” said Glass.
The outcome of the pending legal challenges against SQ 726 before the State Supreme Court remains uncertain. The creation of the ballot committee is an effort to launch an effective campaign against the TABOR initiative.
In addition to Glass, CEO of Glass Wholesale & Trucking and Chairman of The State Chamber, Oklahomans for Responsible Government will be chaired by Steve Turnbo, Chair of Schnake Turnbo Frank, Inc and Chair of the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce, as well as Kirk Humphreys, CEO of Humphreys Real Estate Investments, LLC and Board of Directors Member for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce. The organization’s executive committee includes leaders representing Oklahoma labor, civic, advocacy, education, healthcare, and municipal government associations. The committee will oversee the potential campaign to defeat SQ 726 and coordinate the grassroots efforts of over 70 prominent organizations throughout the state that have joined together in opposition to TABOR.
The legal challenge to SQ 726 exposed fraudulent and deceptive tactics by out-of-state operatives to secure the proposition’s place on the state’s ballot. Speaking for the organization and as one of the protestants in the legal challenge against SQ 726, Kell Kelly, CEO of SpiritBank, stated, “the findings are clear, the proponents of TABOR used lies, deception, and fraud to advance this petition to the people, and we are joined together to fight this issue.” About the legal challenges, Kelly commented, “with the support of the state’s Attorney General and the Supreme Court referee, we feel that we have presented multiple compelling arguments to the Supreme Court.”
“This out-of-state driven petition will weaken our state, not make us stronger as we move into our second century of statehood,” said Steve Turnbo. He continued, “with the sort of tactics used by the proponents of TABOR, it is clear that they are not interested in protecting the future of Oklahoma or its rule of law.”
SQ 726 amends the Oklahoma State Constitution by imposing a complicated, restrictive budget formula limiting public expenditures to the rate of inflation and population. David Blatt, Community Action Project Public Policy Director stated that, “the citizens are being sold a bill of goods.” Blatt explained, “TABOR ties the hands of government with an unrealistic, flawed formula that does not deliver on its promise to make government more efficient and effective. The inevitable result of TABOR would be to squeeze the budget for the vital state services that Oklahomans count on in education, health care, transportation, and public safety.”
Further, the group warned that limiting public investments would have a negative impact to our state’s economy. “We believe in controlling government spending and ensuring the rights of the taxpayer,” said Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce Chairman Fred J. Hall, “but State Question 726 is not the way to do that.” If TABOR passes in Oklahoma, Hall cautioned, its imposed spending caps would mean that major initiatives such as road and bridge maintenance, bioscience research and development, common and higher education, and state services like the needed Medicaid match would not be adequately funded.
Colorado adopted a similar measure in 1992. Under TABOR, Colorado fell drastically behind in the quality of their higher education, schools, transportation, and health care. The problems became so bad that a very large, broad and bipartisan coalition, led by the Colorado business community, successfully passed a statewide referendum to suspend the law.
“While the proponents of TABOR claim to have fixed the flaws of Colorado’s law, SQ 726 has the same risky constitutional restrictions that put government on autopilot,” stated Rodney Ray, Owasso City Manager and Oklahoma Municipal League leader. “State budgets need to be evaluated each year by our legislators; this is the reason they are elected. Our legislators currently have the authority they need to act with due diligence. Unreasonable restraints take away flexibility to deal with emergency situations affecting Oklahoma communities and their residents.
“With TABOR, the devil is in the details,” said Bob Bristow, AARP Oklahoma State resident. He remarked that, “Oklahoma families and seniors have enough trouble struggling with rising fuel and heating costs and access to essential medical care. Oklahomans don’t need the additional burden of having services gutted by the outcomes we’ve already seen from TABOR in Colorado.”
Similar opposition was voiced by the leadership of the Oklahoma Hospital Association. “The hospital community has serious concerns about the effect TABOR would have on the health of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Craig W. Jones, president, Oklahoma Hospital Association. “We now have nearly 700,000 uninsured citizens in our state and Colorado’s experience has shown us that these numbers will likely grow under TABOR. As these costs are passed on, premiums will continue to rise. We cannot risk the negative effects TABOR would have on quality and access to health care.”
Posted at 8/24/2006 02:32:00 PM  
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