Claremore Daily Progress

...Questions
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and more with the additional

funding provided by the question, said David Boren,
University of Oklahoma president.
Boren said he had hoped
there was another way to fix
the states education problem,
but SQ 779 keeps schools
from being damaged beyond
repair.
Rep. Chad Caldwell, REnid, said teachers deserve
competitive wages, but raising taxes is not the way and
should not be the only other
option.
Caldwell said Oklahomas
education system needs to be
more efficient.
Over 50 cents of every
dollar already goes to education, he said, stating
Oklahoma ranks sixth for
money spent on district
administration. We need to
find a way to get more money
to the classrooms and teachers. There are solutions available to us that we can take
advantage of without ruining
our economy.
Opposition to the state
question raised concerns that
the tax increase will hurt
municipalities. Caldwell said
sales taxes are the only revenue possibilities cities have.
SQ 779 would increase most
sales tax above 10 percent.
People are going to say
enough is enough and we will
pay more taxes and it will
take opportunity away from
growing our cities and invest
in infrastructure, which will
hurt everyone, he said.
State Question 780
State Question 780 would
reclassify certain low-level
offenses drug possession
and property crimes under
$1,000 as misdemeanors
instead
of
felonies.
Possession with intent to distribute, distribution, manufacturing and trafficking of drugs
under the proposed ballot title
would remain felonies,
according to the proposal.
The question would not
change
the
Oklahoma
Constitution but amends
existing Oklahoma law.
Kris Steele, former
Speaker of the House and
with
Oklahomans
for
Criminal Justice Reform, said
the question is a way to
enhance drug courts, treatment and allow offenders to
become contributing members of society versus felons.

____________________________________________________ Continued From 1

They could make drug

courts and programs like drug
courts more affordable for
more people under these proposals, he said. This (the
state question) is about individuals who battle addiction
or mental illness.
Oklahoma Department of
Corrections 2015 Annual
Report states of Oklahomas
28,871 incarcerated inmates,
including county jail backup,
the controlling offense for
26.3 percent of offenders was
drug related, 23.3 was other
nonviolent, 2.4 was alcoholrelated and 48 percent were
incarcerated for violent
offenses. Nonviolent offenses
were about 1.5 percent higher
than violent offenses.
District 4 District Attorney
and District Attorneys
Council President Mike
Fields said the DAC has
serious reservations about
the ballot proposals and is
supportive of reforms passed
by the Legislature last session.
I dont believe heroin,
methamphetamine
and
cocaine should be misdemeanor offenses regardless of
how many times someone
possesses them, he said.
There are some serious public safety consequences in
doing that.
The idea of giving localities control, or greater control, over aspects of the criminal justice system are positive, but I think State
Question 780 is based on a
flawed assumption that our
prisons are full of first-time
simple possession and the statistics have showed that not to
be true.
State Question 781
State Question 781 would
create
the
County
Community
Safety
Investment Fund for savings
created by State Question
780, Steele said. SQ 781
would return savings from
reform measures to local governments to invest in rehabilitative programming. The
funds would be distributed to
counties for rehabilitative
programs, like mental health
and substance abuse treatment programs.
Were already spending
this money in incarceration,
but were saying for individuals who would of otherwise
gone to prison, that money
has to go back to the county

so OMES (Office of
Management and Enterprise
Services) calculates the
amount of money and the
Legislature appropriates the
amount of money, Steele
said.
That is the main concern
for Garfield County Sheriff
Jerry Niles that the
Legislature appropriates the
money. Niles said he thinks
State Question 781 is too
broad. Theres no set protections for the mandating of
these issues for mental health
and substance abuse, he
said. What about the cost of
supervision on these people?
That isnt addressed, either.
State Question 790
The measure would
remove a section from the
Oklahoma Constitution to
allow a Ten Commandments
monument be erected back on
Capitol grounds, Hernandez
said.
The question would
remove no public money or
property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated or
used, directly or indirectly,
for the use, benefit, or support
of any sect, church, denomination...
Taking that away will
bring
the
Ten
Commandments back, but
think about it 10, 20, 30 years
down the line, Hernandez
said. We have state money
that goes to Oklahoma
Baptist University, toward
religious-based hospitals. If
you vote no, it closes the door
to other religions. If you vote
in favor, it overturns the
Oklahoma Supreme Court
decision.
State Question 792
SQ 792 would repeal an
article of the Constitution to
amend Oklahomas liquor
laws, allowing the sale of
refrigerated strong beer and
wine at grocery and convenience stores. Liquor stores
would be allowed to sell
items other than alcoholic
beverages. A person, compa-

ny or store owners would be

allowed interest in one area of
alcohol beverage businessmanufacturing or retailing,
according to the question.
The question was brought
via Senate Joint Resolution
68, which passed last session.
Oklahomas alcohol laws
are complex and impact a
range of areas involving a
variety of businesses, said
co-author Sen. Stephanie
Bice, R-Oklahoma City, in
February. In order to be successful in modernizing our
laws, all those entities must
be a part of the discussions so
that we ultimately bring forward measures that will be
comprehensive, thorough,
and enable us to bring this
modernization to fruition.
Thats why the legislative
process were utilizing gives
the greatest chance for success, and we are actively continuing to develop our proposals, both constitutionally
and statutorily.
Brian Kerr of the Retail
Liquor Association
of
Oklahoma told The Norman
Transcript he agrees that
some sort of change to
Oklahomas liquor laws is
needed, but said SQ 792 is
not the answer.
(Big retailers) got everything they wanted and we got
nothing, Kerr told the
Transcript.
I was at every meeting
throughout the process, and I
was led to believe that my
voice was being heard. In the
end, they went with what was
put forth by WalMart and
QuikTrip.

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ay 11
Enjoy
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Enid News & Eagle

Waukomis
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Fear of SQ 777
When a question comes
along to be voted on and it
seems too simple and obvious, alarm bells start going
off.
What is really behind the
innocent-sounding words
which actually dont say
anything clearly at all?
I fear that in the long
run State Question 777 will
harm small farms such as
I have and benefit only the
larger corporate operations.
Genetic meddling in
agriculture and even with
animals is an extremely
dangerous practice, and I
fear this is what passing this
legal question is all about.
For the safety of our
future food supply, please
vote no on SQ 777.
Betty Goen
Fargo
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The Lawton Constitution

make decisions that they

interest groups such as the Hu

Cotton County farmers.

Passage will harm clean water

If youre still undecided
about how to vote on SQ 777, I
respectfully offer a suggestion.
If youre for clean water, just
vote NO. Dont be fooled by the
language right to farm that is
designed to confuse you.
One of the most disagreeable
things about the current right
to farm controversy is that it
drives a wedge between consumers and farmers and ranchers. There is enough division in
our society now and we dont
need more. You should not feel
guilt because you are not
against farmers if you vote
NO.
We dont go to bed hungry in
America and for that were
grateful. But the Farm Bureau,
cattlemen and hog and chicken
corporations deserve no gratitude for inflicting the entirely
unnecessary and divisive right
to farm controversy on us.
Nothing has happened in Oklahoma to hurt responsible agriculture. Certainly nothing
worth amending Oklahomas
Constitution forever has occurred.
Fortunately, the right to
farm, or right to harm, argument has re-energized the
clean water movement, especially here in northeast Okla-

ED BROCKSMITH
If passed, SQ 777 will
advance the Farm
Bureaus agenda of
transporting what they
believe is excess water
to thirsty farmers and
ranchers in the western
half of Oklahoma and to
Texas.
homa. Proponents of SQ 777
seem shocked by that. They
shouldnt be surprised because
we have been at ground zero in
the fight for clean water and
against the very forces pushing
777.
Poultry corporations have
left a legacy of pollution in the
soils bordering the Illinois River and Barren Fork Creek. We
will deal with tons of polluting
phosphorus entering Tenkiller
Lake for decades to come.
We cant forget nor should we
forget that those pushing SQ
777 also are those who fought
the critically needed phosphorus limit for scenic rivers.

SQ 777 is both a water quality issue and a water quantity issue. If passed, SQ 777 will advance the Farm Bureaus agenda of transporting what they
believe is excess water to
thirsty farmers and ranchers in
the western half of Oklahoma
and to Texas. Advocates of water transfer view any water
leaving a lake is excess but its
not extra water. People living
downstream need that water
and so does the fish and
wildlife and the aquatic health
and diversity of rivers and
lakes.
State question 777 is a blatant
attempt to evade rules only for
profit. Agriculture already is
protected in many ways including the $7-billion farm safety
net payments the U.S. Agriculture Department is now making.
On election day dont be
fooled by the words right to
farm. Its very simple. If you
believe our elected officials
should regulate agriculture and
not the courts and if you want
clean, safe water and scenic
rivers and lakes, just vote NO!
Ed Brocksmith, Tahlequah, is
the long-time head of the Oklahoma Scenic River Commission.

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The Lawton Constitution

Should state voters approve SQ 777?

Vote yes to protect land & food

There is much discussion
about SQ 777. As a mom, grandmother, and farm wife, I want
to explain why I want you to
vote YES.
Our #1 job as a farmer and
rancher is to feed people. We
strive to use practices that are
safe and provide the highest
quality foods that we can produce. Our intentions are always
to protect the land and the quality of the food!
Did you know the average
farmer feeds 150 people per
year?
Yet statistics prove that 1 out
of every four people in Oklahoma go to bed hungry each
night not knowing where their
next meal will be! Children go
to school with empty stomachs
leading to lower test scores.
The elderly struggle to balance
a budget between needed medication and meals. I want to
feed people!
With the passing of SQ 777,
we are allowing farmers to
make decisions that they

MARGARET ANN
KINDER
We are keeping the
rights of farmers to use
safe and sustainable practices that can feed our
people.
have made for many generations.
We are keeping the rights of
farmers to use safe and sustainable practices that can feed our
people.
Yes, it is a State Constitutional change, but what will it do?
SQ-777 allows farmers and
state law makers to make the
best decisions in the future on
how to produce safe affordable
healthy foods while protecting
our land.
I dont want national special
interest groups such as the Hu-

ill h

mane Society of the US and

PETA dictating how we produce
our food!
If the bill fails, farmers can
be held to an unreasonable standard that limits the amount of
food we produce; this has already happened in other states.
The next time you go to the
grocery, look at organic and
regular eggs prices. You could
be in the future, forced to purchase higher priced foods.
I think it is everyones personal right to make those decisions. Some of us are not financially able to select the higher
priced item.
As for me, I am voting to
feed the most Oklahomans using sustainable farming practices and providing safe affordable food.
Today you and I have a
choice!
I am voting YES for SQ 777!
Margaret Ann Kinder and her
husband, Jimmy, are long-tine
Cotton County farmers.

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Stillwater NewsPress

Get answers for the state questions

News Press joins with Women Lead OK, League of Women voters to sponsor forum
Staff Report

Those curious about

the state questions facing Oklahoma can get all
the information they can
handle Tuesday night.
The Stillwater League
of Women Voters and
tion Forum at 6-8 p.m.
Women Lead OK are
at the Stillwater Public
hosting a State QuesLibrary.

a non-partisan organization providing

information to voters
for upcoming local and
state elections, Mitsi
Time: 6-8 p.m. today
Andrews, Stillwater
Place: Stillwater Public Library League of Women Voters
president told the News
Press. We advocate
Stillwater League
for voter participation
of Women Voters has
from registering voters
a long reputation as

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to informing voters. We
aim to increase voter
turnout in all elections.
We were approached by
the state-wide organization, Women Lead OK,
to co-host this event in
Stillwater to help local
citizens understand the

See Forum, Page A2

Stillwater NewsPress

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25
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For: Becky SamplesFarm Bureau

Against: Senator
Muegge- No on 777
779 (sales tax increase
Continued from Page A1
for education):
For: Martin Ramirezseven state questions.
Stand
for Children
The forum will present
Against: David Lewisboth sides of each state
Lawyer; surrogate from
questions. The state
the Oklahoma Municipal
questions appearing
League
on the Nov. 8 ballot in780 & 781 (law enclude a penny sales tax
forcement and criminal
increase for education,
rehabilitation):
Right to Farm, modernFor: Sarah Edwardsizing the alcohol laws
Oklahomans for Crimiand criminal justice
reform measures, a mea- nal Justice Reform
Against: District Attorsure that would allow
public funds for religious ney Laura Austin Thomas
purposes and a death
790 (Religion and the
penalty amendment.
The seven state ques- State):
For: Invited Rep. John
tions cover a wide range
Paul Jordan
of areas, and the outAgainst: Allie Shinncomes can impact OklaACLU
homans for a very long
792 (alcohol laws):
time, Mitsi said.
For: Alex Weintz; Yes
At press time, the
on 792
scheduled advocates of
Against: Amie Heneach state question are
as follows. They are also drick- Edmond Wine
Manager
subject to change.
The News Press will
776 (Death Penalty):
For: Invited Sen. Sykes stream the forum via
Facebook Live and Periand Rep. Christian
scope. Free copies of the
Against: Senator ConOklahoma Voter Guide
stance Johnson- Think
will be available to those
Twice
who attend.
777 (Right to Farm):

Forum

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Stillwater NewsPress

Submit calendar items by

mailing events@stwnewsess.com.

mission is one canned good

per person. Chili sample, $3.
Oklahoma Arts Conference - Open House at
Tuesday
Multi Arts Center, 6-8 p.m.,
Halloween Festival, 5- 8 tours of the facility and
m. Downtown Stillwater
demonstrations of stained
etween 7th and 10th
glass, jewelry-making and
enues., Carnival games,
pottery. Refreshments will
ck or treat and costume
be provided.
rade.
Oklahoma Arts ConferHalloween Photos, 5-8
ence - Perpetual Motion
m. at the News Press, 211 Dance Performance, 8-10
. Ninth Avenue. Stop by
p.m., Seretean Concert Hall,
e News Press to show off 123 Seretean Center, show
ur costume during the
will include original postalloween Festival and to
modern and aerial dance
et a studio portrait taken.
techniques. Tickets are $15
hotos will run in the News for adults, and $10 for OSU
ess.
students and children 12
State Questions Forum, and under. Tickets may be
8 p.m., Stillwater Public
purchased by calling 405brary auditorium (Room
744-7509.
5), Sponsored by the
Oklahoma Arts Conferllwater League of Women ence - Caf Kzany, 8-11:45
oters, The Stillwater News p.m., Iron Monk Brewing
ess and Women Lead Ok. Company, late-night talent
scussions and debate
show presented by the
om speakers about the
Stillwater Host Community
ate questions on the Nov. Committee.
general election ballot.
ch question has speakers
Wednesday
at are either in favor or
Hester Street Painting,
ainst proposals present
5:30-7 p.m. on Hester Street
eir side of the issue.
between Morrill and AthHarvest Carnival & Chili letic avenues. Paint encourook-off, 6-8 p.m. at the
aging words OSU football
yne County Expo Center. players and coaches will see
mily friendly event with
on Game Day.
ts of games for kids. AdOklahoma Arts Confer-

WHATS HAPPENING CALENDAR

ence - Cimarron Breeze
Concert, 5 p.m. supper,
6:15-8:15 p.m. concert,
Oklahoma Territorial Plaza,
Perkins, featuring Jimmy
LaFave & Night Tribe
Thursday
Pumpkin Jubilee - Okie
Spuds and More food truck
5:30 to 8 p.m., live music by
Val Gladden Band at 6 p.m.,
pumpkin patch 12 to 8 p.m.
at Highland Park United
Methodist Church 524 N.
Stallard St., sponsored by
Highland Park United Methodist Church and Stillwater
Noon LIons
State Question 777,
Right to Farm, forum,
6-7 p.m., Stillwater Community Center, sponsored by
Oklahoma Watch and The
Stillwater News Press, featuring a speaker for the no
campaign and a speaker for
the yes campaign.
Sleeping Mats for the
Homeless - Meets every
other Thursday through the
end of the year, 6 to 7:30
p.m. at Multi Arts Center
1001 S. Duck St., Instructor
Judy Kail teaches students
to knit or crochet sleeping
mats for the homeless using
plastic bags, bring your own

knitting and crochet equipment or use Multi Arts-provided supplies, this class if
free and open to the public
Friday
Walkaround, 5:30-9 p.m.
Greek neighborhood south
of OSU. Walk around and
look at the house decorations created by members
of the Greek community
and on display in front of
fraternity houses.
Homecoming & Hoops,
9 p.m. (doors open at 8
p.m.) Gallagher-Iba Arena.
A chance to see the mens
and womens basketball
teams and hear results of
some of the homecoming
awards.
Saturday
OSU Sea of Orange
Homecoming Parade,
8 a.m. north along Main
Street from Ninth avenue
to Hall of Fame avenue.
Live stream the parade at
Ostate.tv
Homecoming football
game, 11 a.m., Cowboys
vs. West Virginia, at Boone
Pickens Stadium
Pumpkin Jubilee - Storytime with Jacqi the Oklahoma Mermaid 3 to 5 p.m.,

pumpkin patch 10 a.m. to 8

p.m. at Highland Park United Methodist Church 524
N. Stallard St., sponsored by
Highland Park United Methodist Church and Stillwater
Noon LIons

Show - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at

the Payne County Expo
Center 4518 Expo Circle E.,
over 150 vendors, free admission
Bazaar, The St. John University Womens Guild will
hold an annual Bazaar from
Oct. 31
9 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the St. John
Pumpkin Jubilee - Trunk Parish Hall at 201 N. Knoor Treat, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.,
block. Lunch from 11 a.m. - 1
quilt raffle (need not be
p.m. will include homemade
present to win), pumpkin
soups, quiche, salad, breads
patch 12 to 8 p.m. at Highand desserts. The Bazaar
land Park United Methodist offers wonderful Christian
Church 524 N. Stallard St.,
fellowship in addition to
sponsored by Highland Park the silent auction, fantastic
United Methodist Church
homemade baked good and
beautiful handmade crafts.
and Stillwater Noon LIons
Nov. 3
VFW fundraising dinner,
5-8 p.m. at Grannys Kitchen, 1006 S. Main Street, proceeds from the bean and
cornbread dinner benefit
VFW Post 2027

Nov. 6
35th Annual Fall Festival Arts Crafts and Gifts
Show - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at
the Payne County Expo Center 4518 Expo Circle E., over
150 vendors, free admission

Nov. 4
35th Annual Fall Festival Arts Crafts and Gifts
Show - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
at the Payne County Expo
Center 4518 Expo Circle E.,
over 150 vendors, free admission

Nov. 10
Meridian Technology
Center Thanksgiving
Luncheon - 11 a.m. to 1
p.m. at the Terrace and Skywalk, Meridian Technology
Center 1312 S. Sangre Rd.,
Annual Thanksgiving feast
prepared by MTC culinary
arts students, $10 per person, for more information
call 405-377-3333

Nov. 5
35th Annual Fall Festival Arts Crafts and Gifts

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Stillwater NewsPress

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ETTERS TO THE EDITOR

ay no to big, global
orporate agriculture
at Hoerth
klahoma City
o the editor:
When my sisters and I were chilen, Dad built a large wood and wire
x on the back porch. As he was
owing or doing other fieldwork, he
ould sometimes come upon baby anmals having disturbed their nest. He
ould gather up the babes and bring
em to the wire box on the porch, so
at we could see them.
He had grown up playing in Doe
reek that runs through the farm.
e knew the web of life that was the
eighborhood coyotes, skunks, posums, raccoons, beavers, prairie dogs.
e wanted us to know the other begs that lived on the land, with whom
e shared life.
I learned from my parents that
ere is a great web of life, which is to
respected and honored, listened to
nd learned from; that you dont mess
ith Mother Nature without realizing
at doing so can be suicidal.
Learning how to grow food for huans without harming or destroying
e ecosystem of which we are a part
as been and forever will be one of huanitys great challenges. My parents
nd grandparents generation learned
rough the dark days of the Dust
owl. Our generation is faced with
ighty challenges as we see not only
ow the ways we live affect Oklahoa, but also the entire planet.
Now in our state comes yet another
tempt to take advantage of nature
ithout regard for impact on water,
r, soil, animal, plant and human
ecies. Now comes a greedy bunch
at, thinking only of their pocketoks, want to grow food the cheapest
ay, without consideration for any of
e consequences to the land or its inabitants. They are looking for a place
here the people have lost their will

to do the brave work of honoring and

protecting the land they love.
They are a deceptive lot.
We certainly dont need an amendment to our state constitution that
proclaims we have the right to farm.
We have been farming, freely, forever.
We certainly dont need an amendment to our state constitution that
would forever give corporations corporations based in China and South
America the uncontestable, unregulatable, unlimited right to do whatever they want on the land we know and
love, for their own gain.
Losing our will to care with the land
does not represent the wisdom and
spirit of the Oklahoma people who
raised us, who taught us to honor the
land and its natural processes. Okla-

homa, it is our turn to continue the

challenges of growing food for humans
in ways that respect the land, all its
inhabitants.
Oklahoma, we must have the will to
say no to big, global, corporate agriculture that wants the right to do as they
please on the land we say we love.
Oklahoma, we must vote NO on SQ
777!
Pat Hoerth is the daughter of the
late Oklahoma Republican governor
and Noble County farmer, Henry
Bellmon. She and her sister run a
retreat center, Turtle Rock Farm: A
Center for Sustainability, Spirituality
and Healing, on the family farm. She
lives in CommonWealth Urban Farm
community in Oklahoma City.

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Woodward News

Presidential race, ballot questions driving voter numbers

By Janelle Stecklein
CNHI State Reporter

Oct
25
2016
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OKLAHOMA CITY
Most election years the
League of Women Voters calls
around to build interest in
voter-registration drives.
This year something unexpected happened. Churches,
colleges, high schools and
civic groups didn't have to be
asked, and called to schedule
the events, said Sheila
Swearingen, state president of
the league, a nonpartisan
group focused on voter registration and participation.
Of course theres more
interest, she said. I also
hear people saying theyre
ready for it to be over,
frankly.
Swearingen said the league
and
its
chapters
were
involved in nearly 100 voter
registration drives through
Oct. 14, which was the last
day to sign up to vote ahead
of the Nov. 8 election.
They haven't been the only
ones busy preparing for the
election.
State officials say the
states voter rolls have
swelled due to a divisive
presidential contest, state legislative races and a plethora
of ballot questions on topics
such as education funding,
criminal justice reform and
farming.
Voter data show every
county has notched growth in
the number of voter registrations since the start of the
year.
Overall the state added
146,250 new names to its
voter rolls, bringing the overall tally to nearly 2.13 million.
Bryan Dean, spokesman for
the Election Board, said voter
numbers jump every four
years as the public focuses on
presidential races.
Its not really out of the
realm of where weve been in
previous presidential years,
he said.
The tally is also shy of the

2.18 million who registered

for the 2008 election.
Dean said Oklahomans
calling his office complain
they want more options for
president. The state does not
allow write-in candidates.
The presidential race is
what everybody talks about,
one way or another, he said.
Theres just a lot of interest
in the presidential race.
Swearingen said the uptick
in voter interest is an encouraging sign in a state that often
ranks toward the bottom in
both registration and the actual number of voters who show
up at the polls.
And the presidential race,
though garnering most of the
headlines, is not drawing the
interest of every would-be
voter.
In some cases, it repels
them.
Actually, the presidential
election made it harder to get
people to register this year,
said Sandra Forman, president of Cameron Universitys
Student
Advocates
for
Political Action.
Her group held voter registration drives on the Lawton
campus on five days this year.
They registered a little more
than 100 students, said
Forman, a junior criminal science major from Cache.
The group had similar
drives last year, and interest
was high as candidates were
duking it out ahead of the
Democratic and Republican
presidential primaries. Nearly
200 students registered at the
time.
With the choices now narrowed to Democrat Hillary
Clinton
and
Republican
Donald Trump, Forman said
students are expressing skepticism about voting at all.
This year was kind of like
selling stuff," she said. "All
the stuff theyre seeing on the
media is not wanting to make
people go out and vote.
Forman said she tries to
persuade students that, no
matter what they think about

the presidential election, the

outcome of ballot questions
will affect them.
Its hard because a lot of
people are unaware of the
state questions, she said.
Forman said her peers have
been interested in learning
more about criminal justice
reform, and the proposed
penny sales tax to fund
teacher salaries, early childhood education and higher
education.
The League of Women
Voters has noticed voters
focused on the state questions, as well.
They may have strong
opinions on one side or the
other, Swearingen said.
Younger voters, she said,
are especially attuned to a
question that would allow
convenience and grocery
stores to sell wine and strong,
cold beer, and that allows
liquor stores to sell strong,
cold beer and other prohibited
items, such as mixers and
limes.
Other voters are showing
interest in the so-called
Right to Farm measure, as
well as two questions about
criminal justice reform.
The
farming
measure
would make it difficult for
lawmakers to adopt new agricultural regulations.
The criminal justice questions seek to reclassify certain crimes, such as property
crimes, from felonies to misdemeanors while creating a
fund for rehabilitation programs.
Still, Swearingen worries
that people might register but
ultimately decide to stay
home on Election Day.
It doesnt do any good to
have people register and stay
away from the polls, she
said.
Janelle Stecklein covers the
Oklahoma
Statehouse
for
CNHI's newspapers and websites. Reach her at jstecklein@cnhi.com

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.

Elected Officials

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WOODWARD NEWS

From Taxes to the Ten Commandments: Oklahomans

consider seven state questions on November's ballot
Emily Summars
Enid News & Eagle

ENID, Okla.
Whether by mail or at the
ballot box, Oklahomans
will have tough decisions to make in
Novembers
general
election.
In addition to voting
for president and state
officials, Oklahomans
will consider seven state
questions ranging from
taxes to the Ten
Commandments.
State Questions for
the general election were
added to the ballot
through initiative petition, which requires signatures, or through a legislative
referendum
requiring passage from
the Legislature.
Oklahoma Election
Board Spokesman Bryan
Dean said seven state
questions are in no way
unusual for Oklahoma,
particularly on a presidential election ballot.
Presidential elections
typically have more, he
said. In 2012, there
were six questions, and
in 2010 we had 11 questions on the ballot. We
are not close to a record,
but it is more than we
had in 2012.
Dean said the Election
Board has seen an
increase
in
voters
requesting absentee ballots and registration
numbers are increasing.
In 2012, the state had
2,114,000
voters,
according to the board.
On Tuesday, the state
had 2,126,000 and that
number will increase,
Dean said, noting registered voters increased by
1,000 in less than a day.
The seven state questions brought before
Oklahomans
in
November
include
changing
the

Oklahomas Constitution
and laws on topics
including
execution,
farming, crime, taxes,
alcohol and religion.

State Question 776

State Question 776
would add a section to
the state Constitution to
allow the Legislature
power to designate any
method of execution not
prohibited by the U.S.
Constitutions Eighth
Amendment.
The manner of execution, according to the
U.S. Supreme Court,
must not violate the
Eighth Amendments
ban on cruel and unusual
punishment.
Estela
Hernandez,
Oklahoma Council of
Public Affairs vice president of engagement,
spoke to the Garfield
County Republicans in
September. OCPA is a
conservative think tank
that focuses on state and
local level government
control.
Hernandez said the
situation began in 2014
with the execution of
Clayton
Lockett.
Locketts execution is
described as botched and
made national news
when he died 43 minutes
after the first execution
drug was administered.
Those opposed to the
death penalty said his
execution was why
Oklahoma needed to get
rid of it, Hernandez
said. The question, if
passed, would reaffirm
the death penalty in
Oklahoma.

State Question 777

State Question 777
would add a new section
to Article 2 of the
Oklahoma Constitution,
declaring Oklahoma res-

idents have the right to

engage in farming and
ranching
practices.
Hernandez said if the
question passes, if a
farmer develops new
technology to use in his
or her practices, the state
would have to prove a
compelling state interest
before
being
allowed to restrict the
use of such technology.
Compelling state interest
refers to the method of
determining constitutional validity and balance between individuals constitutional right
and governments interest.
SQ 777 would prevent
out-of-state special interests from dictating
Oklahoma farming and
ranching
practices,
which would influence
consumer choice, said
Tom Buchanan, president of Oklahoma Farm
Bureau.
The American citizen
today enjoys the most
abundant, highest quality
and most affordable food
source this nation and
the world has ever seen,
and thats because of the
agricultural practices
that are ongoing today,
he said. I encourage you
to allow that consumer
choice to continue into
the future, not to regulate
the choice out of the
market.
The
Oklahoma
Stewardship Council,
headed by former state
Attorney General Drew
Edmondson, has taken a
stance against the rightto-farm bill, calling it a
right-to-harm movement instead and citing
pollution and animal
abuse concerns.
I think it would
impact any future effort
to protect the waters of
the state from discharges
by
the
industry,

Edmondson said. Any

new standards on surface
application of wastes
would be presumed to be
unconstitutional, new
standards of air pollution
would be unconstitutional.

State Question 779

State Question 779 is
constitutional amendment that would increase
Oklahomas sales tax by
1 percent for education
with revenue allocated
for common school districts, Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher
Education, Oklahoma
Department of Career
and
Technology
Education,
State
Department of Education
and salary increases for
teachers.
Districts could choose
to go back to a five-day
school week, hire STEM
teachers, give incentives
to master teachers, bring
back reading programs
and more with the additional funding provided
by the question, said
David Boren, University
of Oklahoma president.
Boren said he had
hoped there was another
way to fix the states
education problem, but
SQ 779 keeps schools
from being damaged
beyond repair.
Rep. Chad Caldwell,
R-Enid, said teachers
deserve
competitive
wages, but raising taxes
is not the way and should
not be the only other
option.
Caldwell
said
Oklahomas education
system needs to be more
efficient.
Over 50 cents of
every dollar already goes
to education, he said,
stating Oklahoma ranks
sixth for money spent on
district administration.

We need to find a way

to get more money to the
classrooms and teachers.
There are solutions
available to us that we
can take advantage of
without ruining our
economy.
Opposition to the state
question raised concerns
that the tax increase will
hurt municipalities.
Caldwell said sales
taxes are the only revenue possibilities cities
have. SQ 779 would
increase most sales tax
above 10 percent.
People are going to
say enough is enough
and we will pay more
taxes and it will take
opportunity away from
growing our cities and
invest in infrastructure,
which will hurt everyone, he said.

State Question 780

State Question 780
would reclassify certain
low-level offenses
drug possession and
property crimes under
$1,000 as misdemeanors instead of
felonies. Possession with
intent to distribute, distribution, manufacturing
and trafficking of drugs
under the proposed ballot title would remain
felonies, according to the
proposal. The question
would not change the
Oklahoma Constitution
but amends existing
Oklahoma law.
Kris Steele, former
Speaker of the House
and with Oklahomans
for Criminal Justice
Reform, said the question is a way to enhance
drug courts, treatment
and allow offenders to
become
contributing
members of society versus felons.
They could make
drug courts and pro-

grams like drug courts

more affordable for more
people under these proposals, he said. This
(the state question) is
about individuals who
battle addiction or mental illness.
O k l a h o m a
Department
of
Corrections 2015 Annual
Report
states
of
Oklahomas
28,871
incarcerated inmates,
including county jail
backup, the controlling
offense for 26.3 percent
of offenders was drug
related, 23.3 was other
nonviolent, 2.4 was alcohol-related and 48 percent were incarcerated
for violent offenses.
Nonviolent
offenses
were about 1.5 percent
higher than violent
offenses.
District 4 District
Attorney and District
Attorneys
Council
President Mike Fields
said the DAC has serious reservations about
the ballot proposals and
is supportive of reforms
passed by the Legislature
last session.
I dont believe heroin, methamphetamine
and cocaine should be
misdemeanor offenses
regardless of how many
times someone possesses
them, he said. There
are some serious public
safety consequences in
doing that.
The idea of giving
localities control, or
greater control, over
aspects of the criminal
justice system are positive, but I think State
Question 780 is based on
a flawed assumption that
our prisons are full of
first-time simple possession and the statistics
have showed that not to
be true.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.

See State on Page 6

Woodward News

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State Question 781

Oct
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2016
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State Question 781

would create the County
Community
Safety
Investment Fund for savings created by State
Question 780, Steele
said. SQ 781 would
return savings from
reform measures to local
governments to invest in
rehabilitative programming. The funds would
be distributed to counties
for rehabilitative programs, like mental health
and substance abuse
treatment programs.
Were already spending this money in incarceration, but were saying for individuals who
would of otherwise gone
to prison, that money has
to go back to the county
so OMES (Office of
Management
and
Enterprise Services) calculates the amount of
money
and
the
Legislature appropriates
the amount of money,
Steele said.
That is the main concern for Garfield County
Sheriff Jerry Niles
that the Legislature
appropriates the money.
Niles said he thinks
State Question 781 is too
broad.
Theres no set protections for the mandating of these issues for
mental health and substance abuse, he said.
What about the cost of
supervision on these
people? That isnt
addressed, either.

businesses, said coauthor Sen. Stephanie

Bice, R-Oklahoma City,
in February. In order to
be successful in modernizing our laws, all those
entities must be a part of
the discussions so that
we ultimately bring forward measures that will
be comprehensive, thorough, and enable us to
bring this modernization
to fruition. Thats why
the legislative process
were utilizing gives the
greatest chance for success, and we are actively
continuing to develop
our proposals, both constitutionally and statutorily.
Brian Kerr of the
Retail
Liquor
Association
of
Oklahoma told The
Norman Transcript he
agrees that some sort of
change to Oklahomas
liquor laws is needed,
but said SQ 792 is not
the answer.
(Big retailers) got
everything they wanted
and we got nothing,
Kerr told the Transcript.
I was at every meeting
throughout the process,
and I was led to believe
that my voice was being
heard. In the end, they
went with what was put
forth by WalMart and
QuikTrip.

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State Question 790

The measure would
remove a section from
the
Oklahoma
Constitution to allow a
Ten
Commandments
monument be erected
back on Capitol grounds,
Hernandez said.
The question would
remove no public
money or property shall
ever be appropriated,
applied, donated or used,
directly or indirectly, for
the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church,
denomination...
Taking that away
will bring the Ten
Commandments back,
but think about it 10, 20,
30 years down the line,
Hernandez said. We
have state money that
goes to Oklahoma
Baptist
University,
toward religious-based
hospitals. If you vote no,
it closes the door to other
religions. If you vote in
favor, it overturns the
Oklahoma
Supreme
Court decision.

State Question 792

SQ 792 would repeal
an article of the
Constitution to amend
Oklahomas liquor laws,
allowing the sale of
refrigerated strong beer
and wine at grocery and
convenience
stores.
Liquor stores would be
allowed to sell items
other than alcoholic beverages. A person, company or store owners
would be allowed interest in one area of alcohol
beverage business-manufacturing or retailing,
according to the question.
The question was
brought via Senate Joint
Resolution 68, which
passed last session.
Oklahomas alcohol
laws are complex and
impact a range of areas
involving a variety of

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Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.

Owasso Reporter

Oct
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2016
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Hot Topic: SQ777

Right to Farm Bill
BY STAFF REPORTS

Every week until November 2, the

Owasso Reporter will cover each of the
seven state questions in detail and present both sides of the issue to give citizens
a chance to decide for themselves whether
to vote for or against it on the November
8 ballot. Continuing from last week, this
week well address SQ777 and SQ779. All
information is courtesy of the Oklahoma
Policy Institute and the Oklahoma State
Election Board.
The second question on the November
8 ballot State Question 777 is a measure that has hit Oklahomans squarely in
the chest.
On polar ends of the balance between
rural farmers, big business, a way of life
and its perceived threat, it seems few topics have stirred up as much interest.
Supporters hail the so-called Right to
Farm Bill as a needed protection in a
whirlwind of change opponents nd it
dangerous and hyperbolic.
This measure would add Section 38 to
Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution.
Despite Owassos roots, many folks
today might not feel a direct tie to the
agricultural issues at hand on this ballot
item. To them, Senator J.J. Dossett issues
an encouraging reminder, just in time for
the big voting day.
An educated populace making informed decisions about laws and lawmakers will always be what decides how
great our country and state will be, he
said.
In brief, this piece of legislation would
create state constitutional rights. If the
proposal is approved, the measure would
prevent lawmakers from passing legislation to regulate agriculture without a
compelling state interest. It would create and guarantee the right to engage in
farming and ranching by making use of
agricultural technology, livestock procedures and ranching practices.

This extra protection is a limit on lawmakers ability to interfere with the exercise of these rights.
Similar proposals have been presented
to voters in other states, rst in North
Dakota. A similar amendment passed in
Missouri in 2014; another amendment
was considered in Nebraska earlier this
year but was not approved by legislators
for a vote of the people.
Oklahomas SQ777 is inspired in part
by opponents of Proposition 2 in California, which required certain farm animals
to be able to lie down, stand up, fully extend limbs, and turn around freely. That
measure greatly inuenced the costs
and inputs for produce farmers and has
sparked concern locally, where Oklahomas top agricultural products in revenue
are cattle, hogs, poultry, wheat and dairy.
Proponents say it would shield Oklahoma farmers and ranchers from needless red tape and attacks from out-of-state
special interests, overzealous environmentalists, animal rights advocates, and
other groups who promote stricter regulation of agriculture. They say that the
amendment may protect farm-related
jobs and could provide long-lasting protection for farming and ranching families
who dont have a lot of resources. Lastly,
this would give farmers and ranchers another tool to defend from onerous laws
and regulations in the future.
Opponents argue the amendment,
introduced by out-of-state Big Ag entities is contrary to the ideals of democracy and representative government and
would remove the rights of Oklahoma
voters by putting agricultural lawmaking into the hands of the judiciary and
large corporate enterprises that have the
resources to wage long-term legal battles.
They claim the amendmen is designed to
protect large-scale, corporate-industrial
farms rather than to defend the heritage
and rights of small Oklahoma farmers.
Also, it gives free rein to industrial agriculture and factory farms to pollute the
water and environment and erode local
economies.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.

Owasso Reporter

Oct
26

2016

2016

State Questions

Page
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Your guide
d on Oklahoma
Okl h State
S Questions
Q
| November
N b 88, 22016

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OKLAHOMA

SQ 776 SQ 777
OKLAHOMA

Death Penalty

Was designed to assert

that all methods of
execution shall be
constitutionally allowed,
unless prohibited by the
United States
Constitution, and
designated statutorily
by the legislature

Agriculture

Was designed to establish a

constitutional guarantee for farmers and
ranchers to engage in farming and ranching practices

OKLAHOMA

SQ 780
Law Enforcement
Was designed to
reclassify certain
property offenses
and simple drug
possession
misdemeanor

OKLAHOMA

SQ 779
Taxes

Was designed to increase the state

sales tax by one percent to generate
revenue for education funding.

NOV. 08

2016

Let your
voice be heard...

VOTE!

OKLAHOMA

SQ 781
Law Enforcement

OKLAHOMA

SQ 790

Was designed to use money

saved by reclassifying certain
property and drug crimes as
misdemeanors outlined in
State Question 780 to
fund rehabilitative programs

Religion

Was designed to repeal

Section 5 of Article 2 of the
Oklahoma Constitution,
which prohibits
public money
from being
spent for
religious
purposes

OKLAHOMA

SQ 792
Alcohol

Was designed to allow

grocery stores and
convenience stores to
sell full-strength beer
and wine

SOURCE: https://ballotpedia.org/Oklahoma_2016_ballot_measures

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.

Wagoner Tribune

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2016
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Public forum to focus on farming question

BY STAFF REPORTS

STILLWATER

Oklahoma
Watch, a nonprot media organization, will hold a public forum on
Thursday, Oct. 27, on the controversial State Question 777, which
would amend the state constitution
to give the agricultural industry extra legal protection.
Oklahoma Watch-Out: The
Farming Question will be from
6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Stillwater
Community Centers Lowry Activity
Center, located at 315 W. 8th Ave. in
Stillwater. Featured guests will be
Drew Edmondson, former attorney
general and chair of the Oklahoma
Stewardship Council, and Roy Lee
Lindsey, Oklahoma Pork Council
executive director.
Oklahoma Watch Executive Editor David Fritze will moderate the
discussion. Those interested in attending are encouraged to register
online and come with questions.
Proponents have called the proposal a right to farm amendment
that would protect Oklahomas
farmers and ranchers from overly
restrictive laws pushed by animalrights and other advocacy groups.
Opponents have called it a right
to harm measure that would insulate corporate agricultural interests
from regulation and legal challenges regarding practices harmful to
people or animals.
Roy Lee Lindsey has served as
executive director of the Oklahoma
Pork Council for the past 17 years,
Lindsey oversees the daily opera-

tions of the council, including product promotion, industry promotion

and public advocacy. Lindsey also
serves on the steering committee
for Oklahoma Farmers Care SQ777.
Lindsey grew up in Cordell. He
worked at his fathers farm-equipment dealership and the familys
small farm raising wheat, alfalfa
and registered Angus and crossbred cattle. He attended Oklahoma
State University and majored in agricultural communications.
In 1989, Lindsey began working
in the customer service department
of the parts division of Deutz Allis
Corp. in Batavia, Illinois. Nearly
three years later, Lindsey returned
to OSU to nish his bachelors degree in agricultural communication
and earn a masters degree in agricultural education.
As a former state attorney general and district attorney, Drew
Edmondson has been involved in
high-prole criminal and civil litigation in Oklahoma.

Prior to his four terms as attorney

general, Edmondson was also elected unopposed to three consecutive
terms as Muskogee County District
Attorney. Edmondson is a graduate
of the University of Tulsa College of
Law and Northeastern State University. He is a Navy veteran and
had a tour of duty in Vietnam.
Edmondson now serves as
chair of the Oklahoma Stewardship Council, a coalition of family
farmers, community leaders and
concerned citizens opposing State
Question 777. He has been a longtime advocate for preserving Oklahomas natural resources and has
represented the state in efforts to
protect the states water and animals.
Oklahoma Watch is a nonprot,
nonpartisan media organization
that produces in-depth and investigative stories on public-policy
issues facing the state. For more
information, visit www.oklahomawatch.org.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.

Northwest Oklahoman & Ellis County News

Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016

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2016
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Northwest Oklahoman 3

Letters To The Editor

Dear Editor:
When a question comes along
to be voted on and it seems too
simple and obvious, alarm bells
start going off.
What is really behind the innocent sounding works which actually don't say anything clearly at all?
I fear that in the long run SQ777
will harm small farms such as I
have, and benet only the large
corporate operations.
Genetic meddling in agriculture
and even with animals is an extremely dangerous practice, and I
fear this is what passing this legal
question is all about.
For the safety of our future food
supply please vote NO on SQ777.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Betty Goen
Dear Editor:
Several years ago, I read a
Kathleen Taylor (American Forum) article "Don't Ignore the
Constitution During the Election
Season" which prompted me to
get out my big, beautiful book,
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNTIED STATES OFAMERICA,
inscribed and illustrated by Sam
Fink (Copyright 2006, Welcome
Enterprises, Inc.).
Of course, I read the Constitution, one page after another to the
end, remembering parts I had to
memorize when in High School,
but, I kept going back to the brief
summary and paragraph on the

inside front cover ap and thought

the review quite appropriate for
these 2016 election days.
"In 1787......
We were given the right to
practice the religion of our choice.
We were given the right to say
what we wanted without persecution.
It was written that our house
and property were secure from
unreasonable search and seizure.
We were given the right to a
public trial.
Fifty-ve men we will never
know sat in a sweltering room and
fought for us.
We were given our rights as
citizens of the United States."
"This fall, as we return again to
the ballot box to decide the course
of our country's congressional and
state leadership, every voter must
nd their way back to that room
in Philadelphia."
Of course, the Constitution and
Bill of Rights says a lot more
about rights and responsibilities,
citizenship and voting (where in
the world could you have more),
so, while you still might have that
certain voting privilege, I encourage you to review the Constitution
for history, study and research the
candidates, and, vote for the "best
one"...all, for the sake of "our" freedoms and the sake of our country,
the great UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA!
Oleta Peters

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.