Oklahoma state questions - information

[OKNancy]

Here are the state questions: Please comment if you are for or against each. Or just tell us how you will vote.

State Question No. 705 Legislative Referendum No. 330

This measure creates the Oklahoma Education Lottery Act. It creates the Oklahoma Lottery Commission. The Commission will be governed by a board of trustees. The Commission will operate a state lottery. The board will write rules regarding the conduct of lottery games. At least 45% of the revenue from ticket sales will be returned as prizes. The net proceeds of the lottery will be used for education purposes. Net proceeds will equal at least 35% of ticket proceeds except for the first two years. The act contains provisions relating to the selection and regulation of retailers. This act would lose the force and effect of law under certain conditions. The act contains many other provisions relating to the conduct of a state lottery.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL YES __________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO __________
State Question No. 706 Legislative Referendum No. 331

This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution. It adds a new Section 41 to Article 10. This measure would create the Oklahoma Education Lottery Trust Fund. The trust fund shall consist of monies from the Oklahoma Education Lottery. The monies of the trust fund may only be used for certain purposes. All of the purposes for which the trust fund may be used relate to education. The monies in the trust fund may not be used to replace other state funds used to support education. The State Board of Equalization will determine if any of the monies in the trust fund are being used to replace state funding of education. If such a finding is made, the Legislature may not make any appropriations until the amount of replaced funding is returned to the trust fund. This measure would only become effective if voters approved the lottery contained in House Bill 1278.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL YES __________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO __________
State Question No. 707 Legislative Referendum No. 332

This measure amends Section 6C of Article 10 of the Oklahoma Constitution. The amendment deals with the use of certain city, town and county taxes and fees. When authorized by law, cities, towns or counties can put these taxes and fees to use in three ways. The first use is specific public investments. The second use is aid in development financing. The third use is an income source for other public bodies in the area.
The Legislature can authorize cities, towns and counties to direct the apportionment of these fees and taxes among or between these uses. The amendment allows these apportionments to be prospective. The amendment permits these apportionments to continue from year to year.

The amendment permits cities, towns and counties to pledge certain taxes and fees beyond the current fiscal year and to pledge certain taxes and fees to repay some debts of other public entities.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL YES __________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO __________
State Question No. 708 Legislative Referendum No. 333

This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution. It amends Section 23 of Article 10. This section involves the Constitutional Reserve Fund also known as the Rainy Day Fund. This measure changes the amount which could be spent from the Rainy Day Fund. The State Board of Equalization would decide if the taxes and state collects each fiscal year will be less than predicted. This is called revenue failure. If this happens, up to three-eights (3/8) of the Rainy Day Fund could be spent. The total amount spent from the Rainy Day Fund for revenue failure could not exceed the amount of the funds shortage predicted by the State Board of Equalization. The Rainy Day Fund can be used now if the prediction about state tax collections for the current year is less than the prediction made the year before. One-half (1/2) of the Fund can be spent now if this occurs. If this measure passes, that amount would change to three-eights (3/8). Money can now be spent from the Fund for certain emergencies. One-half (1/2) of the Fund can now be spend for these emergencies. This measure would change that amount to one quarter (1/4).
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL YES __________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO __________
State Question No. 711 Legislative Referendum No. 334

This measure adds a new section of law to the Constitution. It adds Section 35 to Article 2. It defines marriage to be between one man and one woman. It prohibits giving the benefits of marriage to people who are not married. It provides that same sex marriages in other states are not valid in this state. It makes issuing a marriage license in violation of this section a misdemeanor.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL YES __________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO __________
State Question No. 712 Legislative Referendum No. 335

This measure enacts the State-Tribal Gaming Act. The Act contains a Model Tribal Gaming Compact. Indian tribes that agree to the Compact can use new types of gaming machines. These machines are used for gambling. Compacting tribes could also offer some card games.

If at least four Indian tribes enter into the Compact, three State licensed racetracks could use the same electronic gaming machines.

The Act limits the number of gaming machines racetracks can use. The Act does not limit the number of machines that Indian tribes can use.

The State Horse Racing Commission would regulate machine gaming at racetracks. A tribal agency would regulate authorized gaming by a tribe. The Office of State Finance would monitor authorized tribal gambling.

Proceeds from authorized gaming at racetracks go to:

the racetrack,
the owners of winning horses,
horsemen's organizations,
breed organizations, and
the State to be used for educational purposes.
Some of the proceeds from authorized gaming by Indian tribes goes to the State. The State would use these proceeds for educational purposes and compulsive gambling programs.

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL YES __________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO __________
State Question No. 713 Legislative Referendum No. 336

This measure ends sales tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products. The measure places a new tax on cigarettes. This tax will be 4 cents per cigarette. The measure places a new tax on other tobacco products. These taxes begin January 1, 2005.

Some monies from the new taxes will be given to state, county, and local government. Some monies from these taxes will be used for various health-related purposes. These purposes include health care, building a cancer center, trauma care, long-distance medical care, substance abuse, breast cancer, and aid to hospitals and ambulance services.

A committee is created to recommend rules regarding tobacco product taxes.

The measure provides penalties for Indian tribes that break tobacco tax compacts.

The measure makes several income tax changes. It makes the highest Method One individual income tax rate 6.65%. It increases the amount of certain retirement benefits not subject to income tax. It allows certain capital gains of an individual to not be subject to income tax.

The measure sets maximum income levels for individuals making claims under the Sales Tax Relief Act.

The measure makes other changes.

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL YES __________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO __________
State Question No. 714 Legislative Referendum No. 337

This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution. It amends Section 8C of Article 10. This measure changes the method for determining the fair cash value of the homestead of certain heads of household. The change only applies to heads of household who meet two requirements. First, they must be at least 65 years old. Second, their gross household income must meet income level requirements.

This measure changes the income level requirement. At present, to be eligible, the gross household income from all sources must be $25,000 or below. The amendment changes the qualifying income level. To be eligible under the change, gross household income cannot exceed the area's mean income for the prior year. A federal agency determine these mean income levels. The agency determines mean income levels for counties and metropolitan areas. The State Tax Commission must inform each county assessor of the established mean income levels each year.

SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL YES __________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO __________
State Question No. 715 Legislative Referendum No. 338

This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution. It adds a new section to Article 10. The new section is Section 8E. The measure creates an exemption from property tax. The exemption would apply to certain injured veterans. The exemption would also apply to veterans' surviving spouses. The exemption would be for the full fair cash value of the homestead. To qualify for the exemption an injured veteran would have to meet several requirements. First, the veteran must have been honorably discharged from a branch of the Armed Forces or the Oklahoma National Guard. Second, the veteran would have to be a State resident. Third, the veteran would have to have a 100% permanent disability. Fourth, the disability would have to have been sustained through military action or accident, or result from a disease contracted while in active service. Fifth, the disability would have to be certified by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Finally, the veteran would have to be otherwise qualified for homestead exemption. The exemption can be claimed beginning January 1, 2006.
SHALL THE PROPOSAL BE APPROVED?

FOR THE PROPOSAL YES __________
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO __________

[TlalocW]

1. I'm replying

Only so I can find this info more easily later tonight. I've yet to educate myself on the ballot issues in Oklahoma. Naughty voter!

TlalocW

[OKNancy]

2. This might help organize your thoughts ( and mine)

# 705 - Lottery
# 706 - Lottery Trust Fund
# 707 - City & County Tax and Fees
# 708 - Rainy Day Fund
# 711 - Same Sex Marriage
# 712 - Gaming
# 713 - Tobacco Tax
# 714 - Homestead Fair Cash Value
# 715 - Property Tax Exemption for Vets


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Me:
Yes on 705, 706, 712, 715 (714 sounds good, but I want to make sure people aren't going to get screwed)

No : on 711

The others I'm still thinking about.

[Z_I_Peevey]

3. Thanks Nancy

Here's my plan:

YES on 705 and 706.
YES on 714 and 715.

NO on all others.

714 would really place a hardship on poor people in my area, where incomes are very low.

I'm with the Creeks on 712--keep the state and tribal governments out of one another's bidness.

[OKNancy]

4. Thanks for your input

No on 714 then. That is what I thought.

[Z_I_Peevey]

6. Too late to edit

Meant to say no on 714. I'm a nervous wreck today. Sorry.

[bobbieinok]

5. help!!! on 713....cuts tobacco sales tax??? what does it do to inc tax??

[OKNancy]

7. It gets rid of all other taxes on cigs

I'm pretty sure, and taxes them 80cents per pack. This will be a big boon to the Indian tobacco shops.
I'm voting no for selfish reasons..... I smoke. My daughter is voting yes and I understand.

[Nicole]

8. yes to all except #713

No to the tobacco tax because I don't trust the state to spend the money as promised. They are claiming the tax will pay for things that the tobacco settlement money was supposed to pay for, like a cancer center.
In addition to that, it makes several changes to the income tax. Why is income tax tacked on a tobacco tax question?

Plus this last line concerns me
"The measure makes other changes."

What other changes???? Why are they not listed so we can make an informed decision regarding them?

[Nicole]

9. For the record

I am NOT a smoker.

[RoyGBiv]

10. The problem with it ...

The problem with the measure is that it doesn't do what it was supposedly designed to do. As you say, it will be a boon to tobacco shops. Meanwhile, other stores that sell tobacco products will be hit hard, in the case of "mom n' pop" stores, a lot of which are owned by Asians in the OKC area, a major source of income will be lost entirely as tobacco companies pull their buy-back programs to absorb the costs. Chain convenience stores will survive, but their employees will suffer. Privately owned convenience stores will in many cases go out of business.

Access to tobbaco is in no way lessened. The result will simply be more business for Indian tobacco shops ... and probably an increase in theft and black market tobacco selling. (It goes on now more than you might think.)

I smoke too, but if they wanted to tax the hell out of tobacco, across the board, I'd have less of a problem with it. This simply shifts the burden.

[RoyGBiv]

11. SQ 711

Be aware that this is far, far more than a "gay marriage" amendment. Pass or fail, gay marriage is illegal in Oklahoma. The ONLY thing this law does legally is remove state controlled benefits from common-law marriages. It also increases the likelihood of insurance companies working in Oklahoma disallowing "domestic partner" benefits, which currently can be anything from your mother to your roommate.

This makes that illegal.

[OKNancy]

12. I'm confused

I thought the Dem position on 711 was to vote no. Help!

[RoyGBiv]

13. It is!!!! Sorry...

Sorry. Didn't mean to confuse things. While resigning myself to the fact no one I've talked to in the last month will listen to me about John Kerry, I've grown accustomed to presenting these issues in ways that appeal to the more conservative instincts. I sometimes forget where I am when I come here. Beat my head against a lot of brick walls today. ;-)

I was simply saying that SQ 711 affects both heterosexuals and homosexuals equally, and negatively. It's been packaged as a "traditional family" protection law, i.e. no gay marriage, but is actually a device being used by corporations and insurance companies to reduce benefits to everyone.

Homosexual marriage isn't legal in Oklahoma, making this law completely pointless if that were its only intent. That isn't the intent. The real intent is to line the pockets of corporate executives looking to cut costs and insurance companies trying to increase profits.

So, yes, the Democratic position is a resounding NO! on 711!