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Oklahoma State Question 798: Electing Governor and Lt. Governor on the same ballot

Oklahoma State Question 798 introduces the idea of electing governor and lieutenant governor on a single-ticket, but leaves the details of how that it to be accomplished to some future legislature. While I've been critical of other state questions (e.g. 793) for putting too much detail in the state constitution,...

Posted by Michael Bates on October 30, 2018 12:47 PM

Oklahoma State Question 794: Reforming the Victim's Bill of Rights

Oklahoma State Question 794, on the November 6, 2016, general election ballot, substantially modifies Article 2, Section 34, of the Oklahoma Constitution, which establishes certain rights for the victims of crime. If passed, SQ 794 would replace most of the existing text, narrowing the scope to the victims themselves (currently...

Posted by Michael Bates on October 30, 2018 11:31 AM

Oklahoma State Question 793: Optometrists and opticians in retail establishments

State Question 793 would add a section to Article 20 of the Oklahoma Constitution. Currently that article of the Constitution contains only two short sections: Section 1 guarantees the right to produce and sell "denaturized alcohol" -- ethyl alcohol adulterated with poison so that it can be used as an...

Posted by Michael Bates on October 30, 2018 10:35 AM

SQ 640 and raising taxes in Oklahoma

Last week the Oklahoma House approved HJR 1050 by a bare majority of 51 votes, pushed by the Chambercrat House Leadership, voting to erode the constitutional protection against tax increases without approval of the voting public. These 51 representatives, including two, Leslie Osborn and Glen Mulready, who are seeking higher...

Posted by Michael Bates on March 21, 2018 11:07 PM

Oklahoma SQ 790: The First Amendment, not Oklahoma's special version

Oklahoma State Question 790 is a legislative referendum which would remove a discriminatory and inconsistently applied provision in the Constitution of Oklahoma that deals with the relationship of religion and government. Its passage would allow the People of Oklahoma through our elected representatives to weigh and balance a variety of...

Posted by Michael Bates on October 30, 2016 11:19 PM