The Norman Transcript
October 30, 2006 12:23 am
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CNHI News Service
OKLAHOMA CITY -- There are four state questions on the Nov. 7 ballot. Here is a translation of what the questions mean.
STATE QUESTION NO. 724 - STATE PAYMENTS TO LEGISLATORS
The language: "This measure amends Article V, Section 21 of the State Constitution. That Section deals with State pay to legislators. The amendment restricts State pay to some legislators. The pay restriction would apply to some legislators while in jail or prison. The pay restriction would apply to legislators found guilty of a crime. It would also apply to legislators who plead either guilty or no contest. Affected legislators must return any State pay received for time while in jail or prison."
The translation: The original legislation leading to this state question was proposed by Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, and Rep. Trebor Worthen, R-Oklahoma City. The legislation was proposed in reaction to the 2004 arrest of former Rep. Mike O'Neal, R-Enid, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of outraging public decency after an arrest where a woman accused him of grabbing her buttocks. Since it was a misdemeanor charge, O'Neal continued his legislative service and received his state pay.
This legislation would not remove the person from office, but would require a legislator convicted of a felony offense to pay back money earned while in jail, Gumm said.
STATE QUESTION NO. 725 - EXPENDITURES FROM RAINY DAY FUND TO AT-RISK MANUFACTURERS
The language: "This measure amends the State Constitution. It amends Section 23 of Article 10. The measure deals with the Constitutional Reserve Fund also known as the Rainy Day Fund. The measure allows money to be spent from the Rainy Day Fund. The purpose of the authorized spending is to retain employment for state residents by helping at-risk manufacturers. Payments from the Fund would be used to encourage such manufacturers to make investments in Oklahoma. All such payments from the Fund must be unanimously approved by three State officers. Those officers are the Governor and the head of the Senate and House of Representatives. Those officers could only approve payments recommended by an independent committee. Such spending is allowed in years when there is Eighty Million Dollars or more in the Fund and other conditions are met. Such spending is limited to Ten Million Dollars a year. The help given to a manufacturer is limited to ten percent of its in-State capital investments. The Legislature could make laws to carry out the amendment."
The translation: The original Senate bill was proposed by Sen. Debbe Leftwich, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. John Nance, R-Bethany. This legislation would provide help to manufacturing companies that are financially at risk.
Leftwich said the companies will have to jump through a lot of hoops and must make an initial $1 million investment to potentially receive help from the state's Rainy Day fund. The Rainy Day fund is an emergency reserve fund. This legislation requires a minimum of $80 million in the reserve in order to allocate resources to at-risk manufacturers, and no more than $10 million can be spent per year.
The legislation would even help towns with a small manufacturing company that provides 25 or 50 jobs because "just losing that much affects a community," Leftwich said.
But Rep. Mike Reynolds, R-Oklahoma City, has concerns.
"If a company is at risk, it is because they are not making a profit," he said. The investment is at the taxpayers' expense and contradicts the nation's capitalistic society, Reynolds said.
What bothers Reynolds is if there is extra money in the Rainy Day fund. He thinks excess money should be returned to taxpayers. He also said the money is supposed to be used for emergencies.
"I don't think artificially propping a company up is a solution," Reynolds said.
STATE QUESTION NO. 733 - SALES OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON ELECTION DAYS
The language: "This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution. It amends Article 28. This Article deals with sales of alcoholic beverages. Section 6 of Article 28 bans the sale of alcoholic beverages by package stores on certain days. Package store sales of these beverages are prohibited on election days while the polls are open. This measure would remove the ban on sales on election days. If this measure passes, package stores could sell alcoholic beverages on election days."
The translation: Rep. Guy Liebmann, R-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta, authored the legislation. It would allow alcohol sales at package stores on election days.
STATE QUESTION NO. 734 - FREEPORT EXEMPTION FROM PROPERTY TAX
The language: "This measure amends the Oklahoma Constitution. It amends Section 6A of Article 10. This section provides an exemption from property tax. The exemption applies to goods that are shipped into the state, but which do not remain in the state for more than ninety days. This is sometimes known as the freeport exemption. This measure would allow laws to be enacted. The laws could provide for an application process to claim this exemption. The laws could require the application to be filed by a certain date. The laws could require certain information to be included with the application. The application would be filed with the county assessor."
The translation: The legislation was authored by Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, and Rep. Daniel Sullivan, R-Tulsa. The legislation would put a time limit on how long businesses can claim a freeport tax exemption, designed to refund property taxes on business and private property staying in the state for less than 90 days. The legislation would require an application for the exemption completed and filed by a certain date, Crain said.
Jaclyn Houghton is CNHI News Service Oklahoma reporter.
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