Oklahoma
Oklahoma voters approved most of the 11 state questions that appeared on the ballot in the November 2nd general election. The two amendments, which addressed education spending and were the focus of statewide debates, were repelled.
With the defeat of two measures that would have curtailed Arizonans’ petition rights and the narrow passage of an amendment streamlining Oklahoma’s initiative process, yesterday’s election went quite well for petition rights advocates.
The Oklahoman has an editorial out today supporting passage of SQ 750 in order to make the state initiative process more open and accessible to citizens:
CapitolBeatOK.com, a nonpartisan news site that provides information on Oklahoma politics had a piece Wednesday about the radio ad Citizens in Charge is currently running in the state urging a ‘YES’ vote on SQ 750:
Citizens in Charge is running a radio ad in Oklahoma until election day urging state voters to vote ‘YES’ on State Question 750.
If passed, State Question 750 will streamline Oklahoma’s petition signature requirements for placing measures on the ballot and make it easier for citizens to utilize the process.
(LAKE RIDGE, VA) – Today, Citizens in Charge, a national voter rights group focused on protecting the ballot initiative and referendum process, began running a radio ad in Oklahoma urging citizens to vote ”˜YES’ on State Question 750.
“Oklahoma is currently the most difficult state in the country for voters to place an initiative on the ballot,” said Citizens in Charge President Paul Jacob. “State Question 750 is an opportunity to make Oklahoma’s initiative and referendum process more open and accessible to citizens.”
(LAKE RIDGE, VA) – Today, Citizens in Charge, a national voter rights group focused on protecting the ballot initiative and referendum process, began running a radio ad in Oklahoma urging citizens to vote ”˜YES’ on State Question 750.
“Oklahoma is currently the most difficult state in the country for voters to place an initiative on the ballot,” said Citizens in Charge President Paul Jacob. “State Question 750 is an opportunity to make Oklahoma’s initiative and referendum process more open and accessible to citizens.”
Citizens in Charge takes no position whatsoever on ballot measures - either from the people or the legislature - unless they relate to the initiative or referendum process. This November one of those initiatives is Oklahoma State Question 750.
Â
A group vowing to fight “Islamofascism” has launched a media blitz in Oklahoma supporting a state constitutional amendment that would prohibit the courts from considering Islamic or other international law when ruling on cases in Sooner State courtrooms. The campaign by Act! For America, founded by Lebanese American journalist Brigitte Gabriel, includes a radio ad that began airing Monday, opinion articles and robo-calls from former CIA director and Tulsa native James Woolsey urging residents to vote for the ballot initiative.
The nonprofit corporation created by a group of Tulsans will have 90 days after the city clerk approves its charter change petitions to circulate them. The goal is to get enough signatures - about 16,500 on each petition - to place the charter changes on the November 2011 municipal general election ballot. John Brock, a businessman who is the chairman of the group, said there is “overwhelming” belief throughout Tulsa that changing the form of government will end the discord between elected city officials.
The U.S. Conference on Initiative & Referendum and 2010 Global Forum were a great success. Hundreds of citizens, activists, reporters, and scholars attended.
(LAKE RIDGE, VA) – Today, Citizens in Charge, a national voter rights group focused on the ballot initiative and referendum process, began running a television ad on FOX News in Tulsa and Oklahoma City to educate the public about State Senator Randy Brogdon’s long-standing and effective support for the citizen initiative rights of Oklahomans.
A coalition of business and labor groups said Thursday there will be dire consequences for state employees and services if a ballot initiative to dramatically increase spending on public education passes this fall. Members of the One Oklahoma Coalition, comprised of chambers of commerce, the state workers union and other groups, said they support public education. But they said the initiative petition, State Question 744, would force lawmakers to spend more on public schools while cutting funding for other state agencies.
Of the 45 states whose legislatures hold sessions in 2010, 27 of them have adjourned for the year, and 5 more will wrap up before the end of the month. Of the more than 80 bills dealing with the initiative and referendum process in various states, 51 of them would have reduced citizens’ initiative rights. Thanks to the work of activists in our coalitions, only 3 bills reducing citizen’s rights have passed and become law.
Meeting with members of the Libertarian Party of Oklahoma at a dinner a few weeks ago, Paul Jacob, the Virginia-based ballot initiative and referendum rights and legislative term limits activist, spoke about his experience in Oklahoma in 2007. This was where he was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to defraud the state for hiring out-of-state petitioners. “I have not been back in Oklahoma since then,” Jacob said to the Libertarians gathered at a Chinese restaurant in Oklahoma City. “And what’s interesting is that interest outside the state more than it was here in Oklahoma.”