You are on page 1of 16

The Boise City News

&HQWVSHUFRS\&HQWVORRNLQJIHH

Aug
03
2016
Page
01
Clip
resized
35%

s
W
V
Q
V
H



Town Hall Meeting

6WDWH
5HSUHVHQWDWLYH
&DVH\0XUGRFNRI'LVWULFW
ZLOOEHKRVWLQJD7RZQ
+DOOPHHWLQJRQ7KXUVGD\
$XJXVW st  IURP
SPSP DW WKH
&LW\ +DOO ORFDWHG DW  1
 /RJDQ LQ %RLVH &LW\ +H
ZLOO EH VSHDNLQJ DERXW
WKH 5LJKW WR )DUP DV
ZHOODVKDYHD6WDWH)DUP
%XUHDX PHPEHU WKHUH WR
DQVZHU DQ\ TXHVWLRQV:H
HQFRXUDJH HYHU\RQH WR
FRPHDQGEHDSDUWRIWKLV
PHHWLQJ

State Question 777


To Be On November
Ballot
%\5HS&DVH\0XUGRFN

H

H
V
V
G
H
R
Q
V
H
W
Z
W
O
H

2XU VWDWH EDOORW ZLOO EH


SDFNHG ZLWK TXHVWLRQV
FRPH 1RYHPEHU 2QH
VWDWH TXHVWLRQ LV RI
SDUWLFXODU LPSRUWDQFH WR
UXUDO 2NODKRPD IDUPHUV
DQG FDWWOH UDQFKHUV 6WDWH
4XHVWLRQZLOOEHRQWKH
1RYEDOORWDVNLQJYRWHUV
ZKHWKHU RU QRW WR DPHQG
WKH2NODKRPD&RQVWLWXWLRQ
LQ D ZD\ WKDW ZRXOG
JXDUDQWHH2NODKRPDQVWKH
ULJKW WR HQJDJH LQ FHUWDLQ
IDUPLQJ DQG UDQFKLQJ
SUDFWLFHV 7KH PHDVXUH
ZRXOG DGG 6HFWLRQ  WR
$UWLFOH,,RIWKH2NODKRPD
&RQVWLWXWLRQ
ZKLFK
ZRXOG UHDG 7R SURWHFW
DJULFXOWXUHDVDYLWDOVHFWRU
RI 2NODKRPDV HFRQRP\
ZKLFK SURYLGHV IRRG
HQHUJ\ KHDOWK EHQHWV
DQG VHFXULW\ DQG LV WKH
IRXQGDWLRQ DQG VWDELOL]LQJ
IRUFH RI 2NODKRPDV
HFRQRP\ WKH ULJKWV
RI FLWL]HQV DQG ODZIXO
UHVLGHQWV RI 2NODKRPD
WR HQJDJH LQ IDUPLQJ DQG
UDQFKLQJSUDFWLFHVVKDOOEH
IRUHYHU JXDUDQWHHG LQ WKLV
VWDWH7KH/HJLVODWXUHVKDOO
SDVVQRODZZKLFKDEULGJHV
WKH ULJKW RI FLWL]HQV
DQG ODZIXO UHVLGHQWV RI
2NODKRPD WR HPSOR\
DJULFXOWXUDO WHFKQRORJ\
DQG OLYHVWRFN SURGXFWLRQ

Annual Meeting
is set for August
9th at 6:30 at the
Fair building.

A
B
F
W
E
c
s
O
b

LEPC Meeting August 4th @ 11:30am


at the BCHS Wildcat Room 700 SE
1st St. South side of the school. Lunch
will be served Scenario: Anhydrous
Ammonia Accident
DQG UDQFKLQJ SUDFWLFHV
ZLWKRXW D FRPSHOOLQJ
VWDWH LQWHUHVW  $FFRUGLQJ
WR 2NODKRPD 6HFUHWDU\
RI 6WDWHV ZHEVLWH WKH
QHZ VHFWLRQ ZRXOG FUHDWH
WKH IROORZLQJ JXDUDQWHHG
VWDWH FRQVWLWXWLRQDO ULJKWV
IRU WKRVH HQJDJLQJ LQ
IDUPLQJ DQG UDQFKLQJ
7KH ULJKW WR PDNH XVH RI
DJULFXOWXUDO WHFKQRORJ\
7KH ULJKW WR PDNH XVH
RI OLYHVWRFN SURFHGXUHV
DQG 7KH ULJKW WR PDNH
XVH RI UDQFKLQJ SUDFWLFHV
7KHVHFRQVWLWXWLRQDOULJKWV
UHFHLYH H[WUD SURWHFWLRQ
XQGHU WKLV PHDVXUH WKDW
QRW DOO FRQVWLWXWLRQDO
ULJKWV UHFHLYH 7KLV H[WUD
SURWHFWLRQ LV D OLPLW RQ
ODZPDNHUV DELOLW\ WR
LQWHUIHUHZLWKWKHH[HUFLVH
RIWKHVHULJKWV8QGHUWKLV
H[WUD SURWHFWLRQ QR ODZ
FDQ LQWHUIHUH ZLWK WKHVH
ULJKWV XQOHVV WKH ODZ LV
MXVWLHG E\ D FRPSHOOLQJ
VWDWH LQWHUHVW  D FOHDUO\
LGHQWLHG VWDWH LQWHUHVW
RI WKH KLJKHVW RUGHU
$GGLWLRQDOO\WKHODZPXVW
EH QHFHVVDU\ WR VHUYH WKDW
FRPSHOOLQJ VWDWH LQWHUHVW
7KH PHDVXUH  DQG WKH
SURWHFWLRQV
LGHQWLHG
DERYH  GR QRW DSSO\ WR
DQG GR QRW LPSDFW VWDWH
ODZVUHODWHGWR7UHVSDVV
(PLQHQW
GRPDLQ
(DVHPHQWV 5LJKW RI ZD\
RU RWKHU SURSHUW\ ULJKWV
DQG $Q\ VWDWH VWDWXWHV
DQG SROLWLFDO VXEGLYLVLRQ

RUGLQDQFHV HQDFWHG EHIRUH


'HFHPEHU   7KH
TXHVWLRQ RQ WKH EDOORW
IRU YRWHUV LV 6KDOO WKH
SURSRVDO EH DSSURYHG"$
YRWHIRUWKHSURSRVDORUD
\HVYRWHLVDYRWHWRDPHQG
WKH VWDWH FRQVWLWXWLRQ WR
LQFOXGH WKH ULJKW WR IDUP
DQG UDQFK$ YRWH DJDLQVW
WKHSURSRVDORUDQRYRWH
LVDYRWHDJDLQVWDPHQGLQJ
WKHFRQVWLWXWLRQWRLQFOXGH
WKHULJKWWRIDUPDQGUDQFK
7KLV TXHVWLRQ ZDV DGGHG
WRWKHEDOORWDVDUHVXOWRI
SDVVDJH RI +RXVH -RLQW
5HVROXWLRQ

Thank You to Friends


5HFHQWO\\RXIRONVKRQRUHG
PH E\ DOORZLQJ PH WR
UHSUHVHQW \RX DV 6DQWD )H
7UDLO 'D]H 4XHHQ 1RZ
\RX KDYH GRQH VRPHWKLQJ
HTXDOO\ LPSUHVVLYH ZKHQ
\RX KHDUG DERXW P\ H\H
FDQFHU VXUJHU\ :HYH
EHHQ FRYHUHG ZLWK ORYH
FRQFHUQ FDOOV IRRG DQG
PRVWO\ SUD\HUV DOVR
PDQ\RWKHUH[SUHVVLRQVRI
FRPSDVVLRQ DQG NLQGQHVV
(YHQ WKRXJK WKLV SURFHVV
ZLOOJRRQIRUVRPHPRQWKV
*RG KDV EHHQ H[WUHPHO\
JRRG WR XV DQG ZH DJUHH
WKDW\RXKDYHEHHQDQGDUH
LQVWUXPHQWV LQ KLV KDQGV
:HDUHVRWKDQNIXOIRU\RX
*RG%OHVV'RQQDDQG)UHG
2WWLQJHU

*
I
D
W
&
X

$
DQ
R
FL
IX
WK
IR
ID
Z
DQ
FD
R

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

Aug 2016 Page


09
A007

Clip
resized
49%

Hugo News

Ardmore Convention Center, located

tion to help them make wise business

aged. To register, please visit www.

registration fee.

Oklahoma Supreme Court rules in favor of right to farm amendment


OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled in
favor of Oklahomas Right to Farm
Amendment, State Question 777, and
will allow the measure to stay on the
ballot for the November 8 election.
Today, Oklahomas family farm-

ers have scored a big win against out


of state special interests who are trying to decimate Oklahomas economy
and our way of life, said Tom Buchanan, President of Oklahoma Farm
Bureau. Now is the time to stand
up, and defend hard-working family

farmers and ranchers that do so much


for us.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court
let stand a previous decision by an
Oklahoma County District Judge to
dismiss the lawsuit.
State Question 777 is supported by

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

dozens of groups made up of Oklahoma family farmers and the states


leading agriculture organizations.
For more information, visit OklahomaRightToFarm.com.
Contact: 405.761.3033

Aug 2016 Page


09
A013

Clip
resized
71%

The Journal Record

Okla. Supreme Court lets stand Right to Farm initiative


BY TIM TALLEY
Associated Press
OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma
Supreme Court ruled Monday that voters can consider the so-called Right to
Farm ballot initiative during the general
election this fall, but some members of
the states highest court said state lawmakers should require that challenges to
ballot measures be filed earlier.
A coalition known as Save the Illinois River Inc. filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the proposal
in March, more than eight months after
Gov. Mary Fallin issued an order placing
the matter on the Nov. 8 ballot. In a
unanimous ruling, the nine-member
court let stand a decision by Oklahoma
County District Judge Patricia Parrish in
May to dismiss the lawsuit.
But in a concurring opinion, Justices
Douglas Combs and Yvonne Kauger said
legislators should consider imposing
deadlines for challenges of legislative
ballot initiatives.
The Legislature has not provided
any statutory time frame for a pre-election constitutional challenge to legislative referendums, the opinion states.

The Oklahoma state flag flies in front of the Oklahoma Supreme Court building in Oklahoma City. FILE PHOTO BY BRENT FUCHS
This court has previously stressed the
importance of timeliness in election and
ballot-related measures.
The decision says that the lengthy
time between Fallins June 2015 proclamation that placed the measure on the

ballot and the time the lawsuit was filed


prejudices the courts.
This court cannot permit potential
challengers to bide their time until the
ballot printing and election deadlines
loom, in an attempt to force an adjudica-

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

tion quickly, the concurring opinion


says. We cannot permit a flood of latefiled suits that must be resolved before
ballot printing lest the state be forced to
reprint the ballots at significant expense.
Passed by the Legislature last year, the
measure calls for a statewide vote on
whether the right to farm and ranch in
Oklahoma shall be forever guaranteed.
Supporters say the proposed constitutional amendment was prompted in part
by a California proposal that placed restrictions on the size of cages housing egglaying hens and that the measure would
prevent animal rights groups from changing agriculture practices in Oklahoma.
In addition to the nonprofit Save the
Illinois River Inc., the proposal was challenged by state Rep. Jason Dunnington, DOklahoma City, and two private citizens.
Opponents allege the measure could
allow large farming corporations to set
state agricultural policy instead of voters
and lawmakers. Among other things, the
proposal would prohibit the Legislature
from passing laws that would take away
the right to employ agricultural technology and livestock production and
ranching practices without a compelling state interest.

The Boise City News

Aug
10
2016

at 10:30 am.




Page
01
Clip
resized
43%

h


D



Q

U
G
U


Z
\


X
U

U

Protecting The Rights


Of Rural Oklahomans
%\5HS&DVH\0XUGRFN

5XUDO 2NODKRPD LV ORV


LQJ OHJLVODWLYH VHDWV EH
FDXVH RI SRSXODWLRQ VKLIWV
WR XUEDQ DUHDV EXW UXUDO
LQWHUHVWVVWLOOPXVWEHSUR
WHFWHG 2QH VXFK LQWHUHVW
LV IDUPLQJ 6PDOO IDP
LO\ IDUPV LQ UXUDO DUHDV
PDNHXSWKHEXONRIIDUP
LQJ RSHUDWLRQV LQ 2NOD
KRPD 7KH\ SXW EUHDG
PLONHJJVYHJHWDEOHVDQG
PRUH RQ RXU WDEOHV 7KH\
GR EXVLQHVV WKH ZD\ WKHLU
IDPLOLHV KDYH GRQH EXVL
QHVV IRU JHQHUDWLRQV <HW
VRPH RUJDQL]DWLRQV VXFK
DV WKH +XPDQ 6RFLHW\ RI
WKH8QLWHG6WDWHV +686 
ZDQW WR DGG OHJLVODWLRQ
RQWRWKHVPDOOIDUPHUWKDW
PDNHV LW LQFUHGLEO\ KDUG
WRPDLQWDLQWKLVSURIHVVLRQ
WKDWKDVEHHQWKHEDFNERQH
RIUXUDOVRFLHW\VLQFH*RG

SODQWHG D JDUGHQ LQ (GHQ


6PDOOUXUDOIDUPHUVKDYHD
KDUGHUWLPHDEVRUELQJQHZ
UHJXODWLRQV WKDQ FRUSRUDWH
IDUPV WKDW KDYH JUHDWHU
H[LELOLW\ LQ DGDSWLQJ
7KHUH DUH PDQ\ H[DPSOHV
IURPDURXQGWKHFRXQWU\RI
H[FHVVLYH UHJXODWLRQV DQG
WKH SRWHQWLDO WKH\ KDYH WR
KXUW WKH 2NODKRPD IDUP
HU 7DNH IRU H[DPSOH WKH
&DOLIRUQLDHJJPDUNHW$Q
DUWLFOH LQ 0RGHUQ )DUP
HU H[SODLQV WKH SUREOHP
)RU \HDUV WKH +686 KDV
SXVKHG IRU &DOLIRUQLD HJJ
IDUPHUV WR EXLOG ELJJHU
NLQGHU FDJHV IRU HJJOD\
LQJ KHQV ,Q  &DOL
IRUQLDYRWHUVSDVVHGDODZ
WR PHHW WKH UHTXLUHPHQWV
%XW WKHQ &DOLIRUQLD ODZ
PDNHUV UHDOL]HG WKH \ LQ
WKH RLQWPHQW WKH ODZ SXW
WKHLU VWDWH HJJ IDUPHUV DW
D GLVDGYDQWDJH 7KH\ KDG
WR DEVRUE WKH SURKLELWLYH
FRVW RI XSJUDGLQJ DOO RI
WKHLU IDFLOLWLHV ZKLOH RXW
RIVWDWHSURGXFHUVZHUHQW
EXUGHQHGE\WKHVDPHUHJ
XODWLRQVDOORZLQJWKHPWR
VHOO HJJV LQ WKH VWDWH DW D
FKHDSHU SULFH ,Q RUGHU WR
NHHS &DOLIRUQLD HJJ IDUP
HUVLQEXVLQHVVWKHODZZDV
H[SDQGHGWRFRYHUDOOHJJV
VROGLQWKHVWDWHDQGODWHUD
IHGHUDOMXGJHGHFLGHGSUR
GXFHUV IURP RWKHU VWDWHV

KDG WR FRPSO\ 6R QRZ


HJJ SURGXFHUV DURXQG WKH
FRXQWU\ DUH VFUDPEOLQJ WR
UHEXLOGIDFLOLWLHVWRVXSSO\
WKH HJJV IURP  PLOOLRQ
FKLFNHQV WKDW &DOLIRUQLDQV
HDW HDFK GD\ 7KH UHVXOW
D SRVVLEOH HJJ VKRUWDJH
LQ &DOLIRUQLD DQG KLJKHU
SULFHVZKLOHRWKHUPDUNHWV
IDFHRYHUVDWXUDWLRQDQGGH
SUHVVHGSULFHV$VRQHSHU
VRQ TXRWHG LQ WKLV DUWLFOH
SRLQWV RXW WKLV OHDYHV WKH
IDUPHU LQ D ZRUOG RI KXUW
7KLV LV MXVW RQH H[DPSOHV
RI RYHUUHJXODWLRQ WKDW KDV
WKH SRWHQWLDO WR KXUW IDP
LO\ IDUPHUV +686 KDV
EHHQ PDUFKLQJ DFURVV WKH
FRXQW\SXVKLQJWKHLUDJHQ
GDRQHVWDWHDWDWLPH:H
KDYH WR VWRS WKHP KHUH LQ
2NODKRPD $JULFXOWXUH
LV RQH RI WKH PDLQ GULY
HUV RI RXU HFRQRP\ DQG
ZHKDYHWRLQVXUHWKDWRXU
IDUPHUV DQG UDQFKHUV DUH
DOORZHG WR XVH WKH SUDF
WLFHVWKDWKDYHPDGHWKHP
VXFFHVVIXOIRUJHQHUDWLRQV
7KH ERWWRP OLQH LV WKLV LV
DQ LVVXH RI IUHHGRP 7KH
JRYHUQPHQW GRHVQW QHHG
WR LQWHUYHQH LQ RXU GDLO\
OLYHV ZLWK H[FHVVLYH UHJX
ODWLRQV$V ORQJ DV ,P DW
WKHVWDWH&DSLWRO,OOJKW
DJDLQVW WKLV NLQG RI RYHU
UHDFK

,ZLOOEH
KDYLQJD7RZQ
+DOOPHHWLQJ
LQ%RLVH&LW\
7KXUVGD\$XJ
:HZLOOEH
GLVFXVVLQJWKH
5LJKWWR)DUP
EDOORWTXHV
WLRQ$OOHQ-HWW
6WDWH)DUP
%XUHDXERDUG
PHPEHU ZLOO
DOVREHWKHUHWR
WDNHTXHVWLRQV

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

The Boise City News

Oklahoma.

Aug
10
2016
Page
06
Clip
resized
53%

Oklahoma Supreme
Court Rules State
Question 777 Stays on
The November Ballot
State Question 777 will
stay on the ballot. The
Oklahoma Supreme Court
ruled on Monday that the
proposed Constitutional
Amendment that is known
as "Right to Farm" stays
on the November 8 general election ballot despite a
legal challenge brought by
State Rep. Jason Dunnington, D-Oklahoma City,
Save the Illinois River,
Ed Brocksmith and John
Leonard. According to the
legal ruling released by the
State Supreme Court, the
Justices wrote that while
the lower court may have
made their ruling for the
wrong reason- they would
agree with the District
Court and permit SQ777
to remain on the upcoming general election ballot.
The Justices wrote "Here,
the district court dismissed
the petition by granting the
Appellees' motion to dismiss on the grounds that
State Question 777 was not
facially unconstitutional,
HHFWLYHO\ GLVPLVVLQJ WKH
petition. Accordingly, we
DUP WKH GLVWULFW FRXUW
V
dismissal of the case, but
do so on the basis that the
district court should have
abstained from the addressing legislative referendum before voted on by
WKH SHRSOH &ULWLFV OHG
suit in Oklahoma County
District Court but lost in
their bid to keep the quesWLRQ R WKH EDOORW 7KH\
WKHQ OHG DQ DSSHDO ZLWK
the Oklahoma Supreme
Court. The supporters of

State Question 777 are


pleased to put the legal
challenge behind them.
The Tulsa World quotes
Oklahoma Farm Bureau
President Tom Buchanan
as saying The legal challenge to State Question
777 was nothing but a
ODVWGLWFKHRUWE\UDGLFDO
in-state and out-of-state
groups to silence the voice
of Oklahomans, said Tom
Buchanan, president of the
Oklahoma Farm Bureau.
Thanks to the wisdom of
the Oklahoma Supreme
Court, the measure now
will be decided by Oklahoma voters, rather than
the liberal minority. The
President of Save the Illinois River, Denise Deason-Toyne expressed disappointment back in May
with the District Court
decision against their lawsuit, but has not commented on the Supreme Court
ruling upholding the District Court decision.

O
f
w
l
c
t
y
l
m
F
a
s
c
C
a
c
e
h
c
i
b
P
c

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

Enid News & Eagle

LOCAL

Aug
10

STATE

NATION

Right to Farm presentation


headlines chamber luncheon

2016

By Rachael Van Horn

Page
A002

WOODWARD A constitutional amendment that


would guarantee the rights
of farmers and ranchers to
freely practice their trade
was the topic of discussion Monday at the August
Woodward Chamber of
Commerce luncheon.
The event takes place
monthly and is a well attended venue for the discussion
of state and local issues.
This months luncheon
was sponsored by Tri-State
Oil and Gas Convention
Committee,
Northwest
Oklahoma Court Appointed
Special Advocates (CASA)
and Farm Bureau Insurance.
Guest speaker Alan Jett
is a fourth generation farmer and rancher living and
ranching near Slapout. Jett
has been a member of the
Beaver County Farm Bureau
since 1980. Since 2011 he
has served as the District 1
director on the Oklahoma
Farm Bureau Board. Jett
offered an informational talk about how State
Question 777, Oklahomas
Right to Farm is projected
to help ranchers and farmers
in the state.
What we are trying to
accomplish is simple, Jett
said. Were trying to keep
the ridiculous rules that are
coming around the United
States in agriculture, we are
trying to keep them out of
Oklahoma.
It is the first constitutional amendment of its kind
in the U.S. that includes
the compelling state interest clause, which grants
an industry the constitutional right to ply their trade
and to only be regulated if
their practice is deemed by
the court to be in violation
of someones constitutional
rights.
North Dakota passed
a similar measure several years ago as an initiative called North Dakota
Measure 3, but it was not
defined by the compelling
state interest clause.
Missouri also passed
what is known as
Amendment 1 in 2014. The
measure was directly aimed
at the Humane Society of
the United States after it led
a successful fight to reg-

Clip
resized
44%

CNHI News Service

Alan Jett of Slapout talks about State Question 777 (Right to Farm)
that will be on the ballot this November. (Johnny McMahan / Woodward
News)

ulate inhumane dog-breeding practices in their state


in 2010. But the Missouri
measure also did not include
the compelling state interest clause.
Oklahoma State Question
777 is set to appear on the
November state ballot for
consideration by voters.
The proposed measure, if
passed, would add a section 38 to Article II of the
Oklahoma Constitution. It
would add the following
language to Oklahomas
constitution:
To protect agriculture as
a vital sector of Oklahomas
economy, which provides
food, energy, health benefits, and security and is the
foundation and stabilizing
force of Oklahomas economy, the rights of farmers and
ranchers to engage in farming and ranching practices
shall be forever guaranteed
in this state. The Legislature
shall pass no law which
abridges the right of farmers and ranchers to employ
agricultural technology and
livestock production and
ranching practices without
a compelling state interest.
According to Jett, the
measure does not impact
any laws that were passed
before Dec. 31 of 2014
although any regulation
passed after that time frame
could be successfully challenged by farming organizations and possibly stricken.
Jett added that the measure
does not in anyway impede

federal agencies such as


the EPA or the USDA from
passing final rules or regulations. So regulations, such
as final rules like the Waters
of the United States and
other EPA or USDA regulations on how agriculture
is practiced, would not be
stopped by this measure.
He further said that
by providing farmers and
ranchers actual constitutional protection to manage
their farms and animals as
they see fit, it keeps the cost
of food production lower.
He cited Californias
Proposition 2, passed in
2008, which prohibited the
confinement of farm animals in a way that does not
at least let them turn around,
lie down and stand up freely.
According to Jett, it caused
the price of eggs to increase
by four or five times over
what Oklahomans are paying.
A call to a Krogers in
Los Angeles on Monday
asking for the price of a
dozen regularly produced
eggs (not free range or cageless) showed them to cost
$2.69 cents per dozen
not on sale. The same eggs
produced in the same way
by the same company were
$2.74, also not on sale, at
United in Woodward.
Jett said SQ 777 is needed to protect Oklahoma
farmers and ranchers from
just such burdensome regulations that could be passed
by Oklahoma legislators.

But the real threat


appears to be coming from
the highly successful efforts
of the Humane Association
of the United States to bring
ballot initiatives to the voters using petition drives to
get measures on the ballot.
Between 1990 and 2013, the
HSUS has had a 72 percent
success rate in passing a
total of 42 ballot initiatives
in several states. An initiative is a way for the people
instead of the legislature to
enact laws.
Those who oppose the
measure say that by constitutionally protecting one
class of industry, it not only
takes away the power of
the legislature and municipal governments to regulate
agriculture practices, it also
takes away the power of
the people to vote on such
changes.
The list of organization
in opposition to SQ 777 is
long and not only includes
animal rights groups such as
The Human Society of the
United States and others but
also includes the Oklahoma
Municipal League, the
Conservative Coalition, as
well as some who support
farming and ranching but
who are simply opposed
to using the constitution
to protect only one certain
industry.
In addition, since the
measure is broadly written
and protects all farming and
ranching operations in the
state, the opposition states
that SQ 777 creates a kind of
David versus Goliath situation. For instance, in the case
of a small farmer who might
find himself at odds with a
corporate farming neighbor,
he may not have the legal
funding to provide the proof
to satisfy the compelling
state interest clause if the
dispute reaches the courtroom.
Jett said the state already
has statutes limiting the corporate ownership of farms in
the state.
There are 80,000 farmers
and ranchers in Oklahoma,
Jett said. So approximately
2 percent of agriculture here
is what you would call corporate agriculture.
Van Horn writes for the Woodward
News.

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

P
P

Aug 2016 Page


10
0002

Clip
resized
69%

The Hominy News-Progress

near the MKT Depot were a bid to do the work needed on In the past, Hominy s Early

Continued on page four.

Oklahoma Cattlemens Association

Encourages you to VOTE YES for SQ777, Heres Why


State Question(SQ) 777,
2NODKRPDV5LJKWWR)DUPLV
a state constitutional amendment to protect Oklahoma's
family farmers and ranchers,
including small, local and organic farms, from unreasonable government interference
and attacks by out-of-state
special interests.
5LJKWWR)DUPZLOOQRWRYHU
turn all agriculture regulations or existing laws.
We intentionally included
language in the state question
to preserve existing regulation.
The State Question
would not give farmers and
ranchers a blank check but
ensures reasonable regulations, said Michael Kelsey,

Executive Vice President of


the Oklahoma Cattlemens
Association (OCA).
All families have to deal
with rising food costs. According to Kelsey, SQ 777
will allow Oklahomas family farmers and ranchers to do
what they do best: grow great
tasting, nutritious food that
families can afford.
SQ 777 will protect our natural resources. According to
.HOVH\5LJKWWR)DUPZLOOHQ
sure that farmers and ranchers
have access to the latest tools,
techniques and technologies;
allowing them to grow more
abundant and nutritious food,
while using less land and fewer natural resources.

Language is included that


allows the legislature to act on
issues of a compelling state
interest. Clean water and safe
food clearly are compelling
state interests to most Oklahomans, Kelsey said. OCA
and other agriculture groups
pushed for legislation that was
passed this session for water
to be considered a compelling
state interest. The bill's lanJXDJHFRGLHVWKDWWKHOHJLVOD
WXUHDQGWKH*RYHUQRU
VRIFH
has and will have the authorLW\ WR GHQH ZDWHU LVVXHV LQ
the state of Oklahoma.
OCA, together, with several
other Oklahoma agriculture
RUJDQL]DWLRQVXUJHVD\HVYRWH
in November 2016 for SQ 777.

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

To learn more visit oklahomarighttofarm.com.


The Oklahoma Cattlemens
Association is the trusted
voice of the Oklahoma cattle
industry and exists to support and defend the state and
nation's beef cattle industry.
7KH 2&$ RIFHUV ERDUG RI
directors and membership
encourages you to join us in
our advocacy efforts to ensure
less government intervention,
lower taxes and a better bottom line. For more information about OCA membership
or activities visit www.okcattlemen.org.
To learn more visit http://
www.oklahomarighttofarm.
com/

Aug 2016 Page


10
0013

Clip
resized
141%

The Kingfisher Times & Free Press

e
g
f
h
k
y

S.Q. 777 cleared for November vote


Oklahoma voters will be
able to vote on the Right to
)DUPLQLWLDWLYHDWWKH1RY
general election.
The Oklahoma Supreme
Court ruled unanimously
to let stand a decision by

Oklahoma County District


-XGJH 3DWULFLD 3DUULVK WR
dismiss a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality
RI WKH TXHVWLRQ OHG E\ D
group called Save the Illinois River.

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

The Leader Tribune

Aug
10

Capital Conversations
by Casey Murdock

2016
Page
0002
Clip
resized
66%

Protecting the rights of rural Oklahomans


AdaP[>Z[PW^\PXb[^bX]V
[TVXb[PcXeTbTPcbQTRPdbT^U 
_^_d[PcX^]bWXUcbc^daQP]
PaTPb Qdc adaP[ X]cTaTbcb
bcX[[\dbcQT_a^cTRcTS
>]T bdRW X]cTaTbc Xb
UPa\X]V B\P[[ UP\X[h
UPa\bX]adaP[PaTPb\PZT
d_ cWT Qd[Z ^U  UPa\X]V
^_TaPcX^]b X] >Z[PW^\P
CWTh_dcQaTPS\X[ZTVVb
eTVTcPQ[TbP]S\^aT^]^da
cPQ[Tb CWTh S^ QdbX]Tbb
cWTfPhcWTXaUP\X[XTbWPeT
S^]TQdbX]TbbU^aVT]TaP
cX^]bHTcb^\T^aVP]XiP
cX^]bbdRWPbcWT7d\P]
B^RXTch^U cWTD]XcTSBcPcTb
7BDBfP]cc^PSS[TVXb[P
cX^]^]c^cWTb\P[[UPa\Ta
cWPc \PZTb Xc X]RaTSXQ[h
WPaSc^\PX]cPX]cWXb_a^
UTbbX^] cWPc WPb QTT] cWT
QPRZQ^]T^U adaP[b^RXTch
bX]RT6^S_[P]cTSPVPaST]
X]4ST]
B\P[[ adaP[ UPa\Tab
WPeT P WPaSTa cX\T PQ
b^aQX]V ]Tf aTVd[PcX^]b
cWP]R^a_^aPcTUPa\bcWPc
WPeTVaTPcTa TgXQX[XchX]
PSP_cX]V
CWTaT PaT \P]h TgP\
_[TbUa^\Pa^d]ScWTR^d]
cah^UTgRTbbXeTaTVd[PcX^]b
P]ScWT_^cT]cXP[cWThWPeT

c^ Wdac cWT >Z[PW^\P


UPa\Ta
CPZT U^a TgP\_[T cWT
2P[XU^a]XPTVV\PaZTc0]
PacXR[T X] <^STa] 5Pa\
Ta Tg_[PX]b cWT _a^Q[T\
5^a hTPab cWT 7BDB WPb
_dbWTSU^a2P[XU^a]XPTVV
UPa\Tab c^ QdX[S |QXVVTa
ZX]STaRPVTbU^aTVV[PhX]V
WT]b}
8]!'2P[XU^a]XPe^cTab
_PbbTS P [Pf c^ \TTc cWT
aT`dXaT\T]cb 1dc cWT]
2P[XU^a]XP[Pf\PZTabaTP[
XiTScWT hX]cWT^X]c\T]c)
cWT[Pf_dccWTXabcPcTTVV
UPa\TabPcPSXbPSeP]cPVT
CWThWPSc^PQb^aQcWT_a^
WXQXcXeTR^bc^U d_VaPSX]V
P[[^U cWTXaUPRX[XcXTbfWX[T
^dc^UbcPcT _a^SdRTab
fTaT]{c QdaST]TS Qh cWT
bP\TaTVd[PcX^]bP[[^fX]V
cWT\c^bT[[TVVbX]cWTbcPcT
PcPRWTP_Ta_aXRT
8]^aSTac^ZTT_2P[XU^a
]XP TVV UPa\Tab X] QdbX
]TbbcWT[PffPbTg_P]STS
c^R^eTaP[[TVVbb^[SX]cWT
bcPcT P]S [PcTa P UTSTaP[
YdSVT STRXSTS _a^SdRTab
Ua^\ ^cWTa bcPcTb WPS c^
R^\_[h B^ ]^f TVV _a^
SdRTabPa^d]ScWTR^d]cah
PaTbRaP\Q[X]Vc^aTQdX[S

UPRX[XcXTbc^bd__[hcWTTVVb
Ua^\ ! \X[[X^] RWXRZT]b
cWPc2P[XU^a]XP]bTPcTPRW
SPhCWTaTbd[c)P_^bbXQ[T
TVVbW^acPVTX]2P[XU^a]XP
P]S WXVWTa _aXRTb fWX[T
^cWTa \PaZTcb UPRT ^eTa
bPcdaPcX^] P]S ST_aTbbTS
_aXRTb 0b ^]T _Tab^]
`d^cTSX]cWXbPacXR[T_^X]cb
^dccWXb[TPeTbcWTUPa\Ta
X]Pf^a[S^U Wdac
CWXbXbYdbc^]TTgP\_[Tb
^U ^eTaaTVd[PcX^]cWPcWPb
cWT_^cT]cXP[c^WdacUP\X[h
UPa\Tab
7BDBWPbQTT]\PaRWX]V
PRa^bbcWTR^d]ch_dbWX]V
cWTXaPVT]SP^]TbcPcTPcP
cX\TFTWPeTc^bc^_cWT\
WTaTX]>Z[PW^\P0VaXRd[
cdaTXb^]T^U cWT\PX]SaXe
Tab ^U  ^da TR^]^\h P]S
fTWPeTc^X]bdaTcWPc^da
UPa\TabP]SaP]RWTabPaT
P[[^fTSc^dbTcWT_aPRcXRTb
cWPcWPeT\PSTcWT\bdR
RTbbUd[U^aVT]TaPcX^]b
CWTQ^cc^\[X]TXbcWXbXb
P] XbbdT ^U  UaTTS^\ CWT
V^eTa]\T]cS^Tb]{c]TTSc^
X]cTaeT]TX]^daSPX[h[XeTb
fXcWTgRTbbXeTaTVd[PcX^]b
0b[^]VPb8{\PccWTbcPcT
2P_Xc^[ 8{[[
VWc PVPX]bc
cWXbZX]S^U ^eTaaTPRW

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

Muskogee Phoenix

Aug
10
2016
Page
A001
Clip
resized
66%

Foes of
SQ 777 try
different
approach
Plaintiffs believe
amendment is
unconstitutional
By D.E. Smoot
Phoenix Staff Writer

Plaintiffs
whose
pre-election challenge
to the constitutionality
of the so-called Right to
Farm Amendment was
dismissed as untimely by
the Oklahoma Supreme
Court shifted gears to
focus on community outreach and educating the
public about its impact if
passed.
State
Question
777 would carve out constitutional protections
for citizens and lawful
residents of Oklahoma
engaged in farming and
ranching activities. It
would prohibit lawmakers from passing any
laws that might infringe
upon the rights of that
limited class to employ
agricultural technology
and livestock production
and ranching practices
without a compelling
state interest.
Save the Illinois River
President Denise Deason-Toyne said educating
the public is the key to
(See CHALLENGE, 2A)

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

Muskogee Phoenix

Aug
10
2016
Page
A002
Clip
resized
63%
From
A001

Challenge
Continued from Page 1A

prevent passage of a legislative referendum she


and other critics contend
would cripple efforts to
protect and preserve the
states natural resources.
STIR, a grassroots coalition of clean-water advocates was the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit seeking
the removal of SQ 777
from the general election
ballot in November.
The justices, two of
whom were appointed
as substitutes for two
disqualified jurists, affirmed an Oklahoma
County District Court
Judge Patricia G. Parrishs dismissal of STIRs
legal challenge, but for a
different reason. Parrish
found the measure constitutional on its face,
a ruling rejected by the
high court in favor of an
argument based upon a
separation of powers.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ... basically
stated it will not inject
itself into the legislative
process by deciding the
validity of legislation before it is enacted, Deason-Toyne said. Thisis
not a decision on the merits of our claims it just
is basically stating that
our challenge shouldnt
be heard unless and until SQ 777 becomes law.
STIRs
challenge,

which was joined by a


state lawmaker, a family farmer and a property
owner who co-founded
the Tahlequah-based coalition, laid out four arguments upon which they
believe SQ 777 is unconstitutional. They said the
legislative referendum
would unconstitutionally bind, or hamstring,
future Legislatures, addresses more than one
subject, violates separation of powers, and is
unconstitutionally vague.
Supreme Court justices
made it clear the issues
raised in STIRs challenge remain unadjudicated and intact. The
opinion left the door open
for additional challenges
that might be brought
under the federal or state
constitutions by a proper
party if voters approve
the controversial measure.
SQ 777 proponents,
which include corporate
agricultural interests,
contend the constitutional protections sought
are needed to protect the
interests of farmers and
ranchers believed to be
under attack by animal
rights and environmental
activists. They also have
put forth an argument
that passage would ensure an affordable food
supply.
Opponents argue the
measure would allow
corporate interests to
engage unimpeded in

activities and employ


technology that would
harm the environment
and consumers. Requiring lawmakers to prove
future laws dealing with
agricultural activities are
narrowly tailored to further a compelling state
interest, critics say would
make it nearly impossible to regulate the agricultural industry and its
practices.
Deason-Toyne pointed out the ironies of the
courts decision to allow
SQ 777 to remain on the
general election ballot.
While the ruling gives
voters a voice in the decision to approve or reject
the measure, she said its
passage ultimately would
rob them of that voice.
If SQ 777 becomes
law, people will lose that
voice when it comes to
regulating farming (and)
ranching agricultural
practices, Deason-Toyne
said. It will be entirely
up to the courts to decide whether there is a
compelling state interest
which would justify state
regulations we will
lose our voice.
SQ 777 is scheduled
to be presented Nov. 8 to
voters along with several other ballot measures
and candidates competing for federal, state and
local ofces.
Reach D.E. Smoot at
(918) 684-2901 or dsmoot@muskogeephoenix.
com.

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

D
M
d
ca
be
in
to
C
sc
24
D
in
of
ce
co
la
in
e
B
D
a
tw
C
th
m
to
RI
fa
to
of
w
pe
di
te
to
se
tw
an

O
sh
de
to
w
in

Aug 2016 Page


10
A009

Clip
resized
74%

Muskogee Phoenix

THE PEOPLE SPEAK


sands of pages of interpretations of what can
or cannot be enforced.
Maybe Im wrong but I
I read with interest
dont think the corpoMr. Emersons letter of
7/28. I agree that Blue
rate think tanks that
and Gold Sausage is
wrote the Question had
an excellent product
Aunt Minnie and Uncle
by disagree about SQ
Johns 80 acres in mind.
777. One sentence in the I think the Farm Bureau
question forever forbids and their minions aim
new laws affecting farm to protect huge factory
operations in Oklahoma. farms operating behind
Passing a question like
locked gates and high
that is irresponsible and fences beyond the prydangerous. Our granding eyes of regulators.
A quick look at a
children might like us to
growing problem in
leave them some clean
Florida might be a
water and clear skies.
window to Oklahomas
If SQ 777 is passed,
future under SQ 777.
the lawyers will take
Florida has a severe
over and write thou-

SQ 777 will protect


huge factory farms

algae pollution mess.


According to news reports, the out-of-control
algae growth destroying
the beaches is caused by
unregulated fertilizer
runoff by the sugar industry (does that sound
familiar to those who
remember a crystal
clear Illinois River?). It
seems Big Sugar farmers years ago fought and
won the right to operate
without proper regulations.
Now Florida, because
the tourist industry is
being hurt, wants the
federal government to
bail them out with your
tax dollars. To his cred-

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

it, the President said


no. Florida caused
the problem by keeping
federal regulators out of
the states business so
Florida can x the problem themselves.
Do your research
before you vote on feel
good, fuzzy sounding
things like Freedom
to Farm, aka SQ 777.
You will not be voting to
save Aunt Minnie and
Uncle John. You will be
voting to give corporate
farms carte blanche to
do anything they want.
Beware of the wolf in
sheeps clothing.
RICHARD LUNDY
Fort Gibson

The Oklahoman

Aug
10
2016
Page
A010
Clip
resized
48%

OUR VIEWS | THREE MORE STATE QUESTIONS GET CLEARED

Voters will see busy


ballot in November

ECISIONS rendered this week by the Oklahoma


Supreme Court ensure that voters will have a
raft of state questions to decide in November,
although getting some of these measures on the ballot
has been especially challenging.
Backers of State Question 779, which seeks to
increase the state sales tax by 1 cent to fund teacher pay
raises and other education causes, had no trouble gathering the necessary initiative petition signatures but
had to withstand two legal challenges. The states high
court sided with them both times, most recently in late
July, and so voters will get the final say.
Legal challenges also sought to block State Question
792, which would allow wine and full-strength beer to
be sold in grocery stores and convenience stores. The
Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma contends the
question is unconstitutional and discriminatory, but
last week lost its bid in Oklahoma County District Court
for a temporary injunction to keep SQ 792 off the ballot.
The Legislature voted last year to place State Question 777 on the 2016 ballot but it only got final clearance this week. Called Right to Farm by supporters
and Right to Harm by opponents, this constitutional
amendment would prevent lawmakers from passing legislation to regulate agriculture unless there is a
compelling state interest.
A lawsuit challenged the constitutionality of SQ
777 on several grounds and sought to get it removed
from the ballot, but the state Supreme Court on Monday upheld a lower courts ruling in May that rejected
those arguments. The high court agreed that the people
should have a chance to vote on it first.
After losing in May, challengers filed an accelerated appeal to the Supreme Court. Vice-Chief Justice

Douglas Combs was critical of that effort this week,


saying in an opinion worth noting that the court cannot permit potential challengers to bide their time until
the ballot printing and election deadlines loom, in an
attempt to force an adjudication quickly.
Ballot language was the focus of a challenge filed
by backers of State Question 780 and State Question
781. SQ 780 would reclassify some low-level offenses,
such as drug possession and property crimes, as misdemeanors instead of felonies. Its companion question
would take money saved from having fewer people in
prison, and use it to help operate programs that treat
drug offenders and other offenders.
The attorney generals office rewrote the ballot titles
the explanations voters read at the ballot box and
that sparked a challenge from a coalition that supports
the two questions. The AGs office said wording in SQ
780 was too simplistic. The coalition argued that the
AGs language used emotionally charged terms that
were meant to sway voters against the measure.
The court said the rewritten ballot titles were indeed
misleading and partial, but also said neither sides
language was sufficient to describe the measures. So the
court rewrote both ballot titles, and those will be what
voters will see Nov. 8.
Another state question, No. 776, would declare
that the death penalty is not cruel or unusual punishment, and would allow the Legislature to designate any
method of execution if a current method is declared
unconstitutional.
This question, approved by lawmakers, had some of
its language revised by the attorney general but otherwise had smooth sailing getting to the ballot a rare
thing indeed this year in Oklahoma.

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

Pauls Valley Democrat

Aug
10

s
n

2016
Page
A002
Clip
resized
100%

$1,000.

Oklahoma Supreme
Court lets stand Right
to Farm initiative
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma
Supreme Court says voters can consider the
so-called Right to Farm ballot initiative this
fall, but some members of the court say state
lawmakers should require that challenges to
ballot measures be filed earlier.
A coalition known as Save the Illinois River,
Inc., filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the proposal in March, more than
eight months after Gov. Mary Fallin issued
an order placing the matter on the ballot. On
Monday, Justices Douglas Combs and Yvonne
Kauger suggested legislators consider imposing deadlines for challenges.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court let stand a
decision by Oklahoma County District Judge
Patricia Parrish in May to dismiss the lawsuit.
Opponents allege the measure could allow
large farming corporations to set state agricultural policy instead of voters and lawmakers.

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

Aug 2016 Page


11
0007

Clip
resized
115%

The Herald-Democrat

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

The Newcastle Pacer

Aug
11
2016
Page
A010
Clip
resized
74%

Why the Oklahoma


Cattlemens Association
supports State Question 777
State Question (SQ) 777,
Oklahomas Right to Farm, is
a state constitutional amendment to protect Oklahomas
family farmers and ranchers,
including small, local and
organic farms, from unreasonable government interference and attacks by out-ofstate special interests.
Right to Farm will not overturn all agriculture regulations or existing laws.
We intentionally included
language in the state question to preserve existing
regulation. The State Question would not give farmers
and ranchers a blank check
but ensures reasonable regulations, said Michael Kelsey,
Executive Vice President of
the Oklahoma Cattlemens
Association (OCA).
All families have to deal
with rising food costs. According to Kelsey, SQ 777
will allow Oklahomas family farmers and ranchers to
do what they do best: grow
great tasting, nutritious food
that families can afford.
SQ 777 will protect our
natural resources. According to Kelsey, Right to Farm
will ensure that farmers and
ranchers have access to the
latest tools, techniques and
technologies; allowing them
to grow more abundant and
nutritious food, while using
less land and fewer natural

resources.
Language is included that
allows the legislature to act
on issues of a compelling
state interest. Clean water
and safe food clearly are compelling state interests to most
Oklahomans, Kelsey said.
OCA and other agriculture
groups pushed for legislation
that was passed this session
for water to be considered a
compelling state interest.
The bills language codies
that the legislature and the
Governors ofce has and
will have the authority to dene water issues in the state
of Oklahoma.
OCA, together, with several other Oklahoma agriculture organizations urges
a yes vote in November 2016
for SQ 777. To learn more
visit oklahomarighttofarm.
com.
The Oklahoma Cattlemens
Association is the trusted
voice of the Oklahoma cattle
industry and exists to support and defend the state and
nations beef cattle industry.
The OCA ofcers, board of
directors and membership
encourages you to join us
in our advocacy efforts to
ensure less government intervention, lower taxes and
a better bottom line. For
more information about OCA
membership or activities visit
www.okcattlemen.org.

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

You might also like