VOTER INFORMATION PO Box 53217, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152-3217 405.235.3669 www.okstatechamber.com
State Legislative Elections 2016 Senate Races (General Election) 2016 House Races (General Election) More than 80% All Oklahomans will have the opportunity to vote for President, U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative. 45 out of 149 (1 in 3) state legislative seats will have new representation the 2nd most turnover in state history. More than 80% of incumbent state legislators have or will face challengers this election cycle, the highest percentage in recent memory.
Summary of Oklahoma s 2016-2017 State Budget In February, the Board of Equalization certified $5.8 Billion In revenue available for the Legislature to spend. But the FY2017 State Budget actually spends $5.8 Billion $6.8 Billion Where did the extra BILLION dollars come from? Business Tax Incentives & Rebates Capped Transportation Bonds Collection Enhancement One-Time Funds (Unclaimed Property & Agency Reserve Funds, Rainy Day Funds, Revenue Classification Reforms) Personal Income Tax Changes $125 Million $200 Million $62.5 Million $574 Million $113 Million Total: $1.07 BILLION This allowed some state agencies to see little or no cuts from the amount received in FY2016 Common Education +0.62% Healthcare Authority +9.24% Dept. of Human Services +2.57% Mental Health +2.18% Corporation Commission +0% Corrections +0% But some agencies saw significant cuts on top of reductions in 2016: Higher Education -7.66% Career Tech -5.30% Military Department -4.42% Commerce -2.57% Agriculture -4.45% Tourism & Recreation -11.65%
Oklahoma s Judicial Retention Vote Oklahoma judges on the State Supreme Court and Court of Civil Appeals appear on the November ballot every six years to be voted on by Oklahoma voters. The decisions that these judges make have the ability to expand or contract legal liability on Oklahoma families and businesses. When legal liability expands, it increases costs for everyone. The Oklahoma Civil Justice Council has created ratings for the judges that will appear for retention this November. The lower the score, the more that a judge s opinions have had the effect of expanding liability and increasing your costs. 2016 Judicial Ratings Supreme Court Justice James Winchester Justice Douglas Combs Court of Civil Appeals Justice John Fischer Justice Larry E. Joplin Justice P. Thomas Thornbrugh Why You Should Care 74% 36% 37% 82% 39% The lower the score, the higher the cost to you. What happens in our courtrooms directly impacts your wallet. When legal liability is expanded it increases costs for everyone. Reasonable legal reform has the potential to keep your insurance costs under control. These ratings are based on an examination of each judge s opinions. They only include cases where there is a difference of opinion between judges on the same case. This means they re using the same law on the same set of facts. The only difference is their view of the law and what it means. The evaluations assess each judge s record in comparison to the records of other judges on the court, in cases that involve civil liability creation and expansion or restraint. These cases are the ones that increase your insurance costs. Similar evaluations have been completed in 17 other states. The full report is available for anyone to view at the Oklahoma Civil Justice Council s website www.okciviljustice.com.
SQ 776 Oklahoma Death Penalty Summary: SQ 776 adds a new measure to the Oklahoma constitution that states that all methods of execution not prohibited by the United States Constitution may be used in Oklahoma. It also specifies that if any method of execution is declared invalid, the death sentence shall remain in force until the sentence can be lawfully executed by any valid method. It states that the death penalty is not cruel and unusual punishment under Oklahoma s constitution. This measure creates flexibility for the Oklahoma Legislature and our court system. Ensures the state of Oklahoma can effectively carry out the death penalty. SQ 776 is an expensive and unnecessary government overreach. The referendum does nothing to alter Oklahoma s ability to enact capital punishment, but could open up the state to further costly legal challenges paid for by taxpayers. SQ 777 Oklahoma Agriculture Summary: SQ 777 creates a constitutional protection for farming and ranching in Oklahoma, guaranteeing the rights to make use of agricultural technology, livestock procedure and ranching practices. This protection may not be infringed upon except in cases where the government has a compelling state interest of the highest order. This enumerates the right to farm and ranch, which has largely been assumed to exist in Oklahoma already, creating a Constitutional protection rather than an assumed protection. The regulatory environment surrounding the farming and ranching industry is already prohibitive and becoming more restrictive on a daily basis. This measure protects traditional agricultural practices from costly regulations that have been enacted by courts and Legislatures in other states. It does not forbid any practices currently being used such as organic farming. This will make it more difficult to prevent certain types of animal cruelty. This could also make future statewide planning for natural resources more difficult. With the dawn of additives, growth hormones, pesticides and genetic modifications, it is irresponsible to take away regulation of the farming industry.
SQ 779 Statewide Sales Tax Summary: SQ 779 increases the state sales tax by 1% with revenues directed to common education, career tech and higher education. It raises the minimum teacher salary by $5,000 per year. It also forbids the Legislature from reducing appropriations to education based on the FY2017 budget. Oklahoma teachers are underpaid, which has caused many would-be teachers to seek employment elsewhere or select a different profession. This measure is the only way to adequately fund education in Oklahoma, provide raises for teachers, and improve student preparedness. This will give Oklahoma the highest sales tax rates in the nation, making this a substantial regressive tax disproportionately impacting those with low incomes. The proposal will unnecessarily restrict the Legislature when budgeting. The proposal could inhibit cities across the state from utilizing their own sales tax increase for municipal projects. SQ 780 & 781 Justice Reform Summary: SQ 780 reduces all simple drug possession crimes and property crimes under $1,000 to misdemeanors from felonies. SQ 781 uses savings from SQ 780 to fund rehabilitation services like drug rehab and alternative sentencing based upon actual data or a best estimate of amount saved. SQ 781 can only go into effect if SQ 780 passes. Oklahoma has the highest incarceration rate in the country because of over criminalizing nonviolent crimes. This creates huge costs for the state housing nonviolent criminals. Felonies for simple drug possession and property crimes have contributed to the workforce shortage, negatively impacting economic growth and unnecessarily burdening taxpayers. SQ 780 will save the state a lot of money, so it makes sense to invest some of those savings into better treatment and rehabilitation programs in SQ 781. To reduce prison overcrowding, we should reduce the sentences for nonviolent crimes. However, these crimes should still remain felonies so that potential employers are aware of criminal behavior. SQ 781 creates a financial obligation for the state based on very uncertain, arbitrary and subjective calculations.
SQ 790 Religious Use of State Property Summary: SQ 790 repeals a section of the state constitution commonly referred to as the Blaine Amendment that prohibits the use of public property or expenditures for religious purposes. Most notably, this issue was created by the Oklahoma Supreme Court s ruling that the Ten Commandments monument had to be removed from the State Capitol complex. This measure will enhance the First Amendment and partnerships between the government and charitable organizations that have religious affiliations such as the Salvation Army. Without this amendment, many well-intentioned organizations such as the Boy Scouts may not be able to hold meetings or events at public facilities like schools. This will erode the separation of church and state. This may open the door for government resources used to advocate for religious purposes. SQ 792 Alcohol Modernization Summary: SQ 792 restructures Oklahoma s alcohol laws to be comparable with the vast majority of other states in the US. The major provisions of the reforms will: 1. Move many regulations from the state Constitution to state law 2. Eliminate the distinction between low-point and high-point beer 3. Allow liquor stores to sell refrigerated beer and non-alcoholic products like soft drinks, ice and glassware 4. Allow grocery stores to sell wine and high-point beer 5. Require clerks to complete specialized training and raise the clerk age for selling beer from 16 to 18 Oklahoma is one of a few states that still make distinctions between high and low-point beer. Regulations regarding the sale of alcohol are confusing, outdated and impractical. Existing laws inhibit the growth and success of local wineries, vineyards and craft brewers. This will put many liquor stores out of business. This will expand the opportunity for underage drinking.
Chamber Action Network (CAN) While the State Chamber staff is advocating for legislation impacting the business community at the Capitol, elected officials also need to hear from their constituents as they determine their positions. We want to make it easy for businesses and stakeholders to get involved and influence legislation that impacts the business climate and Oklahoma s economy. The Chamber Action Network (CAN) is a grassroots effort to empower local businesses and chambers of commerce to be heard at the Capitol. This new initiative provides comprehensive resources for local chambers and economic development executives, to easily stay engaged in what happens at the capitol while keeping focused on the jobs in their communities. During the legislative session, we engage local chambers with weekly emails and conference calls to stay up-to-date on policy changes affecting Oklahoma s business climate. Throughout the year, we provide information and toolkits including elections, state questions, judicial decisions and policy briefs. The Chamber Action Network also provides streamlined opportunities for direct engagement with legislators and other key decision makers. With the remarkable strides our state has made passing pro-growth legislation in the last few years, it is critical for Oklahoma s business community to remain unified behind these reforms and policy goals. Our mission is to make certain that the men and women creating policy hear your voice before they cast their vote. WE MEAN BUSINESS PO Box 53217, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73152-3217 405.235.3669 Fax: 405.235.3670 www.okstatechamber.com