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Tuesday, October 18, 2016 The Anadarko, Oklahoma, Daily News Page Five
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STATEQUESTIONS
Seven state questions will appear on the Nov. 8 general election ballot. Legislative
Referendums are placed on the ballot by the Oklahoma Legislature. Initiative Petitions are
placed on the ballot by gathering signatures from citizens. Each question is reprinted here
as it will appear on the ballot followed by a brief summary.
Death Penalty
STATEQUESTION
STATE QUESTION NO. 776
LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM NO. 367
776
This measure adds a new section to the Oklahoma Constitution, Section 9A of Article 2. The new
Section deals with the death penalty. The Section establishes State constitutional mandates relating
to the death penalty and methods of execution. Under these constitutional requirements:
The Legislature is expressly empowered to designate any method of execution not prohibited by
the United States Constitution.
Death sentences shall not be reduced because a method of execution is ruled to be invalid.
When an execution method is declared invalid, the death penalty imposed shall remain in force
until it can be carried out using any valid execution method, and
The imposition of a death penalty under Oklahoma lawas distinguished from a method of
executionshall not be deemed to be or constitute the iniction of cruel or unusual punishment
under Oklahomas Constitution, nor to contravene any provision of the Oklahoma Constitution.
FOR THE PROPOSAL YES
AGAINST THE PROPOSAL NO
SUMMARY: State Question 776 does two things: it addresses the method of
execution for an inmate on death row, and it states that the death penalty shall
not be deemed cruel and unusual punishment. If the proposal is approved, a
new section would be added to the Oklahoma Constitution that allows the
state to continue to impose the death penalty, even if a specific method of
execution becomes unavailable. Death sentences would remain in effect until
they can be carried out by any method not prohibited by the US Constitution.
If approved, the constitutional amendment would apply to the state
constitution but not the federal constitution or courts applying federal law.
The Oklahoma death penalty law, enacted in 1976, has been consistently
applied by Oklahoma elected officials: the state executed 191 men and
three women between 1915 and 2014 at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary
(82 by electrocution, one by hanging, and 111 by lethal injection). Statutes
specifically allow gas inhalation, electrocution, and firing squad as backups to
the primary form of execution by lethal injection.
In October 2015, Oklahoma suspended executions for a review of lethal
injection protocols. One of the drugs most commonly used for lethal injection
is sodium thiopental, which is no longer manufactured in the United States.
In 2011, the European Commission imposed restrictions on the export of
certain drugs used for lethal injections in the United States.
As a result, many states no longer have the drugs used to carry out lethal
injection. Oklahoma has turned to other drugs as a substitute for sodium
thiopental. However, recent instances of executions around the country in
which alternative drugs were used may have produced adverse outcomes.
The death penalty is legal in thirty-one states, and illegal in nineteen.
Agriculture
STATEQUESTION
777
This measure adds Section 38 to Article II of the Oklahoma Constitution. The new Section creates
state constitutional rights. It creates the following guaranteed rights to engage in farming and
ranching:
The right to make use of agricultural technology,
The right to make use of livestock procedures, and
The right to make use of ranching practices.
These constitutional rights receive extra protection under this measure that not all constitutional
rights receive. This extra protection is a limit on lawmakers ability to interfere with the exercise
of these rights. Under this extra protection, no law can interfere with these rights, unless the law
is justied by a compelling state interesta clearly identied state interest of the highest order.
Additionally, the law must be necessary to serve that compelling state interest. The measureand
the protections identied abovedo not apply to and do not impact state laws related to:
Trespass,
Eminent domain,
Dominance of mineral interests,
Easements,
Right of way or other property rights, and
Any state statutes and political subdivision ordinances enacted before December 31, 2014.
SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, the measure would prevent

lawmakers from passing legislation to regulate agriculture unless there is a
compelling state interest. The proposal would forbid the state of Oklahoma
from regulating the use of agricultural technology, livestock procedures,
and ranching practices. The standard of compelling state interest is a key
component to the question because it sets a very high standard for a law to
be judged.
If passed, the proposal would apply to any democratically elected body
that can trace its creation to the state legislature, including county and city
governments, but not school boards. Federal laws would not be impacted;
current state laws about farming and ranching would be grandfathered in,
and would not be repealed by this amendment. Grandfathered laws could be
amended or repealed in the future.
Similar proposals have been presented to voters in other states, first 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 State Question 777 is inspired
in part by opponents of Proposition 2 in California. Proposition 2 required
certain farm animals to be able to lie down, stand up, fully extend limbs, and
turn around freely. SQ 777 is unique in that it added the compelling state
interest clause.
Oklahomas top agricultural products in revenue are cattle, hogs, poultry,
wheat, and dairy. Agriculture is the states fourteenth highest economic sector,
accounting for less than 2 percent of GDP, (higher than agricultures national
rate). For decades, as technology and yields have advanced, the number of
agricultural jobs and farms has declined. Nine in ten Oklahoma crop and
animal operations are owned by private citizens, many of whom contract with
larger corporations.
Education Funding Tax
STATEQUESTION
INITIATIVE PETITION NO. 403
779
This measure adds a new Article to the Oklahoma Constitution. The article creates a limited
purpose fund to increase funding for public education. It increases State sales and use taxes by one
cent per dollar to provide revenue for the fund. The revenue to be used for public education shall be
allocated: 69.50% for common school districts, 19.25% for the institutions under the authority of the
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, 3.25% for the Oklahoma Department of Career and
Technology Education, and 8% for the State Department of Education. It requires teacher salary
increases funded by this measure raise teacher salaries by at least $5,000 over the salaries paid
in the year prior to adoption of this measure. It requires an annual audit of school districts use of
monies. It prohibits school districts use of these funds for increasing superintendents salaries or
adding superintendent positions. It requires that monies from the fund not supplant or replace other
educational funding. If the Oklahoma Board of Equalization determines funding has been replaced,
the Legislature may not make any appropriations until the amount of replaced funding is returned to
the fund. The article takes effect on July 1 after its passage.
SUMMARY: If this proposal is approved, Article 8-C would be added

to the Oklahoma Constitution creating a limited purpose fundthe
Education Improvement Fund.
An increase of the sales and use tax by one cent on the dollar would
provide revenue for the fund. School districts that benefit from the fund
would be subject to an annual audit. Funds generated by the tax cannot
be used to replace other state funding of common, higher, career and
technology, and early childhood education.
The provisions of the new article require a minimum $5,000 salary
increase for teachers over the salaries paid in the year prior to adoption.
The funds generated would not be used to increase the salaries of school
superintendents or to add superintendent positions.
Oklahomas average compensation for teachers, including salary and
benefits, is $44,921. According to the National Education Association,
Oklahoma ranks 49th in the nation in teacher pay.
A section within the new article to the state constitution establishes
that monies collected would be distributed as follows:
69.5 percent to common education
> 86.33 percent of common education funding would be used to
provide teachers with a minimum $5,000 raise and otherwise address or
prevent teacher and certified instruction staff shortages.
> 13.67 percent of common education funding would be used to
adopt or expand, but not maintain, programs, opportunities or reforms
for improving reading in early grades, improving high school graduation
rates, and increasing college and career readiness.
19.25 percent to higher education
3.25 percent to career and technology education
8 percent to early childhood education
Law Enforcement
STATEQUESTION
780
This measure amends existing Oklahoma laws and would change the classication of certain drug
possession and property crimes from felony to misdemeanor. It would make possession of a limited
quantity of drugs a misdemeanor. The amendment also changes the classication of certain drug
possession crimes which are currently considered felonies and cases where the defendant has a
prior drug possession conviction. The proposed amendment would reclassify these drug possession
cases as misdemeanors. The amendment would increase the threshold dollar amount used for
determining whether certain property crimes are considered a felony or misdemeanor. Currently, the
threshold is $500. The amendment would increase the amount to $1000. Property crimes covered
by this change include; false declaration of a pawn ticket, embezzlement, larceny, grand larceny,
theft, receiving or concealing stolen property, taking domesticated sh or game, fraud, forgery,
counterfeiting, or issuing bogus checks. This measure would become effective July 1, 2017.
SUMMARY: If the measure is approved, State Question 780 would reclassify certain offenses, such as simple drug possession and property crimes, as
misdemeanors rather than felonies. The reclassification of the drug possession offense is intended to be applied to persons who use the drugs, not to
those who are selling or manufacturing the drugs. The measure also would
change the dollar amount threshold for property crimes charged as felonies
from $500 to $1,000.
The goal of this measure is to reduce the size of the states prison population and to reduce the amount of state funds being spent on prisons. SQ 780
proposes to change Oklahoma statutes, not the constitution.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice in 2014, Oklahoma had the second
highest incarceration rate in the nation at 700 inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents. Oklahoma also had the highest incarceration rate for women that year.
The total correctional population of a state includes people incarcerated and
on probation or parole.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections indicated in August 2016 that
the prison system was at 104 percent of its capacity with 27,097 inmates being
held. Drug offenders comprise 26.3 percent of inmates. Another 23.3 percent of inmates are imprisoned for other nonviolent crimes. According to
the Oklahoma DOC 2015 annual report, the Oklahoma prison population
has increased by 22.6 percent since 2006. In fiscal year 2016, the Oklahoma
legislature appropriated $485 million to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
If the measure is approved, the changes proposed would not be retroactive.
Sentences for current inmates would not change.
For more information about State Questions, see the Oklahoma Secretary of State website at
www.sos.ok.gov/gov/state_questions.aspx
or the Oklahoma State Election Board website at
www.ok.gov/elections/Election_Info/State_Question_info.html.
Criminal Rehabilitation
STATEQUESTION
781
This measure creates the County Community Safety Investment Fund, only if voters approve
State Question 780, the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act. This measure would create a
fund, consisting of any calculated savings or averted costs that accrued to the State from the
implementation of the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act in reclassifying certain property crimes
and drug possession as misdemeanors. The measure requires the Ofce of Management and
Enterprise Services to use either actual data or its best estimate to determine how much money
was saved on a yearly basis. The amount determined to be saved must be deposited into the Fund
and distributed to counties in proportion to their population to provide community rehabilitative
programs, such as mental health and substance abuse services. This measure will not become
effective if State Question 780, the Oklahoma Smart Justice Reform Act, is not approved by the
people. The measure will become effective on July 1 immediately following its passage.
SUMMARY: The implementation of State Question 781 is contingent on the

passage of State Question 780. If SQ 781 is approved by voters, but SQ 780 is
not, none of the changes described in SQ 781 will be enacted.
If both measures are approved, SQ 781 would create the County Community
Safety Investment Fund. That fund would hold any cost savings achieved
by reducing numbers of people incarcerateda decrease resulting from
reclassifying certain property crimes and drug possession as misdemeanors.
The new Investment Fund would be a revolving fund not subject to fiscal year
limitations. Any savings or averted costs would be calculated by the Office of
Management and Enterprise Services.
If savings are determined, the legislature would be required to
appropriate that amount from the general fund to the County Community
Safety Investment Fund.
The money must be used for county rehabilitative programs, including
those that address mental health and substance abuse, or provide job training
or education. The money would be distributed to Oklahoma counties in
proportion to their population.
The Office of Management and Enterprise Services will use actual data or
make its best estimate when calculating cost savings per year. Its calculation
would be final and would not be adjusted because of subsequent changes in
underlying data.
The intent of SQ 781 is to focus on root causes of criminal behavior
such as addiction and mental health problems, as opposed to placing more
people charged with lower-level offenses behind bars.
Religion & the State
STATEQUESTION
790
This measure would remove Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which prohibits the
government from using public money or property for the direct or indirect benet of any religion or
religious institution. Article 2, Section 5 has been interpreted by the Oklahoma courts as requiring
the removal of a Ten Commandments monument from the grounds of the State Capitol. If this
measure repealing Article 2, Section 5 is passed, the government would still be required to comply
with the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution, which is a similar constitutional
provision that prevents the government from endorsing a religion or becoming overly involved with
religion.
SUMMARY: State Question 790 addresses public funding and property

use regarding the separation of church and state. It is a proposal to repeal
a section of the states constitution. If the measure is approved, Article 2,
Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution would be repealed. By removing this
section, public expenditure or property use for religious purposes would not
be explicitly prohibited.
Under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof.
Under the Oklahoma Constitutions Article 2, Section 5, state money
or property cannot be used directly or indirectly to support a church, sect,
denomination, or system of religion.
This state question is a response to recent controversy over display of the
Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Oklahoma State
Capitol. In 2009, the Ten Commandments Monument Display Act was
passed by the state legislature and, three years later, a privately donated Ten
Commandments monument was erected on the grounds of the State Capitol.
Lawsuits followed, and by June 2015, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled the
monuments placement on state property was unconstitutional, ordering that
it be removed. The basis for the courts decision was Article 2, Section 5 of the
Oklahoma State Constitution. In October 2015, Oklahoma Governor Mary
Fallin called on the legislature to repeal that section of the state constitution
in order to allow the monument at the State Capitol.
Alcohol
STATEQUESTION
792
This measure repeals Article 28 of the Oklahoma Constitution and restructures the laws governing
alcoholic beverages through a new Article 28A and other laws the Legislature will create if the
measure passes. The new Article 28A provides that with exceptions, a person or company can
have an ownership interest in only one area of the alcoholic beverage business-manufacturing,
wholesaling, or retailing. Some restrictions apply to the sales of manufacturers, brewers,
winemakers, and wholesalers. Subject to limitations, the Legislature may authorize direct shipments
to consumers of wine. Retail locations like grocery stores may sell wine and beer. Liquor stores
may sell products other than alcoholic beverages in limited amounts. The Legislature must create
licenses for retail locations, liquor stores, and places serving alcoholic beverages and may create
other licenses. Certain licensees must meet residency requirements. Felons cannot be licensees.
The Legislature must designate days and hours when alcoholic beverages may be sold and may
impose taxes on sales. Municipalities may levy an occupation tax. If authorized, a state lodge may
sell individual alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption but no other state involvement
in the alcoholic beverage business is allowed. With one exception, the measure will take effect
October 1, 2018.
SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, it would repeal Article 28 of the

Oklahoma Constitution and replace it with Article 28A, which restructures
the laws governing alcohol. If approved, the measure will go into effect on
October 1, 2018.
Currently, under Oklahoma law, liquor stores can sell full-strength,
unrefrigerated beer but cannot sell cold beer or chilled wine. Liquor stores
can sell wine and spirits but no other items. Grocery and convenience stores
can sell cold low-point beer (3.2 percent alcohol by weight) but not spirits,
wine, or high-point beer.
State Question 792 would change the current alcohol laws to allow grocery,
convenience, and drug stores to sell cold, high-point beer (up to 8.99 percent
alcohol by volume) and wine (up to 15 percent alcohol by volume). Liquor
stores would be allowed to sell cold beer and any item that also may be
purchased in a grocery store or convenience storeexcept motor fuelin
limited amounts. Liquor or spirits will still only be available for purchase
from licensed retail liquor stores.
The Anadarko Daily News
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Seven State Questions

By DAVID PERRYMAN
On November 8 every Oklahomans election ballot will include
seven state questions. Four of the
state questions have been placed on
the ballot by the Oklahoma legislature (Legislative Referendum) and
three are there because of petitions
that were signed by tens of thousands of Oklahomans (Initiative Petition).
Because of the length of this
years ballot, voters may find it
helpful to review a list of the questions as it gets closer to time to
vote. While I would be happy to
discuss these state questions with
you in depth, the following list is
provided so that you can sort
through which number relates to
which subject:
State Question 776 was placed
on the ballot by the legislature to
allow the state to continue to execute condemned persons even if the
law changes the method of execution. A YES vote will allow the legislature to choose an alternative
method of execution and a NO vote
will leave the law unchanged.
prevent new laws and regulations
from being placed on the agriculture industry unless the state can
show that the law is necessary to
protect Oklahoma. A YES vote will
require the state to prove that any
new law dealing with agriculture is
necessary to prevent harm to Oklahoma before it can be enforced and
a NO vote will leave the law unchanged.
on the ballot by the people of Oklahoma for a new one penny sales tax
to supplement Oklahomas education budget. A YES vote will raise
Oklahomas sales tax by one cent
and a NO vote will leave Oklahomas sales tax rate unchanged.
on the ballot by the people of Oklahoma to change certain offenses
from felonies to misdemeanors. A
YES vote will make simple drug
possession cases misdemeanors and
will raise the threshold of a felony
theft from $500 to $1000. A NO
vote will make these crimes continue to be classified as felonies.
on the ballot by the people of Oklahoma so that IF the state saves
money by not sending so many
people to prison, the savings would
be used to fund local drug treatment
and counseling services. Even if
this State Question passes, it will
For the
Common
Good
By
David
Perryman
not become effective unless both
780 and it pass. A YES vote will
use any savings from 780 for local
drug treatment services and a NO
vote would allow any savings to be
appropriated by the legislature for
any purpose.
on the ballot by the legislature to repeal a section from Oklahomas
Bill of Rights that prevents public
money and property from being
used for religious purposes. A YES
vote will allow public money and
public property to be used by religions and religious organizations. A
NO vote will leave Oklahomas
Constitutional separation of church
and state unchanged.
change the places where beer and
wine could be sold. A YES vote
will change the law to allow grocery stores and convenience stores
to sell wine and stronger beer. A
NO vote will leave Oklahomas
liquor laws as they currently exist.
Instead of standing in line to
vote, you may order an ABSENTEE BALLOT between now and
Wednesday, November 2.
For questions or comments call
me at 405-557-7401 or email
David.Perryman@okhouse.gov.
THE FIRST
AMENDMENT
We the People of the United
States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure
domestic Tranquility, provide for
the common defence, promote the
general Welfare, and secure the
Blessings of Liberty to ourselves
and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America....
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press;
or the right of the people peaceably
to assemble, and to petition the
Government for a redress of grievances.
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The Duncan Banner
The Edmond Sun
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Taxes to the Ten Commandments: Oklahomans

consider 7 state questions on November's ballot
ment.
Estela Hernandez,
Oklahoma Council of
ENID Whether by
Public Affairs vice presimail or at the ballot box,
dent of engagement,
Oklahomans will have
spoke to the Garfield
tough decisions to make
County Republicans in
in Novembers general
September. OCPA is a conelection.
servative think tank that
In addition to voting for focuses on state and local
level government control.
president and state offiHernandez said the situcials, Oklahomans will
consider seven state ques- ation began in 2014 with
tions ranging from taxes to the execution of Clayton
the Ten Commandments. Lockett. Locketts execution is described as
State Questions for the
botched and made nationgeneral election were
al news when he died 43
added to the ballot
through initiative petition, minutes after the first exewhich requires signatures, cution drug was adminisor through a legislative ref- tered.
erendum requiring pasSTATE QUESTION 777
sage from the Legislature.
State Question 777
Oklahoma Election
would add a new section
Board Spokesman Bryan
to Article 2 of the
Dean said seven state
Oklahoma Constitution,
questions are in no way
declaring Oklahoma resiunusual for Oklahoma,
particularly on a presiden- dents have the right to
engage in farming and
tial election ballot.
ranching practices.
Presidential elections
Hernandez said if the
typically have more, he
question passes, if a
said. In 2012 there were
six questions, and in 2010 farmer develops new technology to use in his or her
we had 11 questions on
the ballot. We are not close practices, the state would
have to prove a comto a record, but it is more
pelling state interest
than we had in 2012.
before being allowed to
Dean said the Election
restrict the use of such
Board has seen an
increase in voters request- technology. Compelling
state interest refers to the
ing absentee ballots and
method of determining
registration numbers are
constitutional validity and
increasing.
balance between individIn 2012, the state had
uals constitutional right
2,114,000 voters, accordand governments interest.
ing to the board. On
SQ 777 would prevent
Tuesday, the state had
out-of-state special inter2,126,000 and that numests from dictating
ber will increase, Dean
said, noting registered vot- Oklahoma farming and
ranching practices, which
ers increased by 1,000 in
would influence consumer
less than a day.
choice, said Tom
The seven state quesBuchanan, president of
tions brought before
Oklahomans in November Oklahoma Farm Bureau.
The American citizen
include changing
today enjoys the most
Oklahomas Constitution
and laws on topics includ- abundant, highest quality
and most affordable food
ing execution, farming,
source this nation and the
crime, taxes, alcohol and
world has ever seen, and
religion.
thats because of the agriSTATE QUESTION 776
cultural practices that are
State Question 776
ongoing today, he said. I
would add a section to the encourage you to allow
state Constitution to allow that consumer choice to
the Legislature power to
continue into the future,
designate any method of
not to regulate the choice
execution not prohibited
out of the market.
by the U.S. Constitutions
The Oklahoma
Eighth Amendment.
Stewardship Council,
The manner of execuheaded by former state
tion, according to the U.S. Attorney General Drew
Supreme Court, must not
Edmondson, has taken a
violate the Eighth
stance against the rightAmendments ban on
to-farm bill, calling it a
cruel and unusual punish- right-to-harm move-
BY EMILY SUMMARS
CNHI OKLAHOMA
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ment 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.
STATE QUESTION 779
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 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
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.
State Question 779 is a

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, 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 posSTATE QUESTION 781
sibilities cities have. SQ
State Question 781
779 would increase most
sales tax above 10 percent. 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.
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
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
STATE QUESTION 790
to fruition. Thats why
The measure would
the legislative process
remove a section from the were utilizing gives the
Oklahoma Constitution to greatest chance for sucallow a Ten
cess, and we are actively
Commandments monucontinuing to develop
ment be erected back on
our proposals, both conCapitol grounds,
stitutionally and statutoHernandez said.
rily.
The question would
Brian Kerr of the Retail
remove no public money Liquor Association of
or property shall ever be
Oklahoma told The
appropriated, applied,
Norman Transcript he
donated or used, directly
agrees that some sort of
or indirectly, for the use,
change to Oklahomas
benefit, or support of any
liquor laws is needed,
sect, church, denominabut said SQ 792 is not the
tion...
answer.
Taking that away will
For more information
bring the Ten
on any of the questions,
Commandments back, but peruse or download the
think about it 10, 20, 30
Oklahoma Voter Guide.
years down the line,
Hernandez said.
EMILY SUMMARS is area
reporter for the News & Eagle. She
STATE QUESTION 792
can be reached at esummars@enidSQ 792 would repeal an news.com.
article of the Constitution Enid News & Eagle reporter Sally
to amend Oklahomas
Asher contributed to this report.
Call to nd out how to earn an additional
$50 back on purchases over $499.
GETA
YOKOHAMA
VISA
PREPAID
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With the purchase of four select Yokohama tires.

OFFER VALID: OCTOBER 1 - OCTOBER 31, 2016
Card is issued by the Bancorp Bank, Member FDIC,

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The Kingfisher Times & Free Press
Oct
26
2016
Page
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The Coalition against
es
o- state question 777, the right
g to farm, is using scare tactics
nt and misconceptions, to get
people to vote against SQ
C 777, saying the Chinese will
o take over our state agriculal ture and pollute our waters
p- among other things.
uNothing could be further
g from the truth, there are
at
strict state and federal reguy
d lations in place that protect
e- our waters. SQ 777 will
ut not change the regulations
e already in place, and will
have no effect on any federal
e regulations in the future,
r: the opponents of SQ 777
y are trying to make people
e- believe that if the measure
G- passes that the Chinese are
e going to come over here and
ht start dumping whatever in
e, our water. Come on people,
x- we were born at night but it
g wasnt last night!!
ws
State Question 779, the
d one-cent sales tax for edo ucation, education needs
some help. The people of
e
Oklahoma dont need to
ras be penalized for something
d thats not their fault. Let me
at explain, it is not our fault
U- because the state economy,
e- namely oil prices are the
way they are. When the
w- economy was booming,
H the state should have been
d putting away money for
n- such times, and we are all
rt guilty of spending money
n when we are doing well
g financially; thats human
d- nature, I guess.
h
There are people that
o- the penny sales tax would
of cause some hardships une employed and people on a
Q [HG LQFRPH 7KLQN DERXW
it!!!
at
God Bless America.
Jon Cochran Sr.
The Lone Grove Ledger
Oct
26
2016
Page
0005
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Oklahoma
voters guide
available at
library
3LFN XS D IUHH FRS\ RI WKH
2016 Voterguide at any Southern
Oklahoma Library System branch
library and get educated on the
upcoming election in November.
The guide provides information regarding the 2016 election
including federal elections, state
elections and state questions.
The Oklahoma League of
Women Voters has made the
guides available to all libraries
across the state of Oklahoma.
In addition to the presidential
election, several state questions
will be on the ballot including:
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restructures the alcohol law in
Oklahoma.
Information on all questions
is available in the Voterguide.
For more information or to
pick up a guide visit a Southern
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Johnston County Library in TishoPLQJR 3DUNHU 0HPRULDO /LEUDU\
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Healdton Community Library,
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O
KLAHOMA CITY (AP)

Oklahoma voters will
decide seven separate state
questions when they head to
the voting booths on Nov. 8,
including a major overhaul
of the states laws regulating
alcohol sales, many of which
havent been updated since
the Prohibition era.
Four state questions dealing with alcohol sales, farming and ranching restrictions,
the death penalty and the use
of public funds for religious
purposes all were placed on
the ballot as a result of resolutions passed by the Legislature.
Three others were the
result of signature drives:
one to increase the sales tax
by 1 percent to fund public
education and teacher pay
raises and two designed to
slow prison growth by reducing penalties for drug possession and property crimes and
investing money into community treatment programs.
The most money being spent
so far on television advertising is aimed at two proposed
constitutional amendments:
State Question 792, which
most notably would allow for
the sale of strong, cold beer
in grocery and convenience
stores beginning in 2018, and
State Question 777, which
would require state and local
governments to meet a compelling state interest standard to issue new regulations
on agriculture and livestock
production.
Data released last week by
the Center for Public Integrity shows of the nearly $3
million spent so far to air
3,819 television ads on state
questions, more than $1.1

million was spent in support
of SQ 792. Another $754,000
was spent on nearly 1,200 ads
either supporting or opposing
SQ 777.
The figures cover spending through Monday and
dont include ads that aired
on cable television, radio or
online.
SQ 792 is supported by a
broad coalition that includes
both large chain and independent grocery and convenience
stores, breweries, wineries
and chambers of commerce.
We regularly have customers who come in looking for
cold, regular-strength beer or
wine, said Marc Jones, chief
executive officer for HAC
Inc., the parent company of
Homeland Grocery Stores.
We cant offer those products now. But if State Question 792 passes, we can provide additional choices and
convenience to customers.
But the proposal is being
bitterly fought by retail
liquor store owners, who say
it will result in the closure of
hundreds of package stores
across the state.
A lot of the restrictions
on package stores remain in
place for us and are lifted
for grocery and convenience
stores, said Bryan Kerr, the
owner of Moore Liquor and
the president of the Retail
Liquor Association of Oklahoma, which represents about
680 package stores across the
state. Retail package stores
are just going to be out in the
wilderness figuring out how
theyre going to survive.
Battle lines also have been
drawn over SQ 777 between
%RRN6DOH&RQWLQXHV
wo more days still remain
T
at the final used book
sale of the year at the Ponca
City Public Library.
A grocery bag full of books
ranging from hardcovers to
paperbacks and from fiction
to how-to volumes costs
just $2 downstairs at the
library.
Just in front of the MuitiMedia desk the wide selection includes biographies,
mysteries, horror books, and
romance stories.
In the Non-Fiction areas,
you will find something in

most areas of interest such
as cooking, sports, travel,
health, reference, literature,
education, and so much more.
Although the large part of
these are adult books, there
is a limited amount of books
for children, young adults
and Middle School age children. In addition to books
there are also a small number of CDs, DVDs, audio cassettes and VHS tapes.
Receipts for tax purposes
are available.
agriculture and livestock

groups that support it and
a coalition in opposition
that includes environmental groups, cities and towns,
Native American tribes and
animal rights groups.
Farmers and ranchers who
support the proposal say they
mostly want to protect their
operations from animal rights
groups that want to impose
restrictions on agricultural
practices, like mandating
cages for egg-laying hens be
a certain size, said Roy Lee
Lindsey, executive director of
the Oklahoma Pork Council.
From an agricultural perspective, thats the concern
we have long term, Lindsey
said.
But placing such a high
standard a compelling
state interest in Oklahomas Constitution imposes
a major burden on future
efforts to regulate any farming or ranching activity, even
if those activities were harmful to the environment, said
former Oklahoma Attorney
General Drew Edmondson,
who chairs an opposition
group called the Oklahoma
Stewardship Council.
My biggest concern is the
protection of our water,
Edmondson said. The regulations that were in place
before 2015 are supposed to
be undisturbed, but Im worried about new processes,
new chemicals, new pesticides or herbicides ... and our
ability to address those.
State Question 790 deletes
a section of the Oklahoma
Constitution that prohibits the use of state money or
property from supporting a
church or religion. The proposal was passed by Republican lawmakers upset over
a court decision that forced
the removal of a Ten Commandments monument from
the statehouse grounds.
State Question 776, backed
by a pair of pro-death penalty lawmakers following a
botched lethal injection,
would enshrine the death
penalty in the Oklahoma Constitution. Supporters say it
would make it more difficult
for the courts or future Oklahoma legislatures to eliminate the death penalty, but
opponents say it is completely
unnecessary since the death
penalty will remain on the
books even if voters reject it.
I dont trust the government to regulate shoelaces,
why would I trust them with
the power to kill their own
citizens, said Marven Goodman, chairman of the Republican Liberty Caucus
Oct 2016 Page

26
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Tahlequah Daily Press
Voter Information Session set for Thursday

Tahlequah Young Professionals &
Entrepreneurs will host a Voter Information Session 5-7 p.m., Thursday,
Oct. 27, at the Tahlequah Armory Municipal Center, 100 N. Water Ave.
This event is a casual, come-andgo event designed with business
schedules in mind. Members of the
community are encouraged to attend
to learn more about upcoming ballot questions. Representatives will be
available from state and national level
campaigns and local organizations. .
Attendees include YesOn792, Yes
on 780 & 781, Right to Farm (Yes on
777), Cherokee County Democrats,

VDAY-Tahlequah One Billion Rising,
Matt Meredith for State Representative District 4, Bob Ed Culver for State
Representative District 4, Dewayne
Pemberton for State Senate District 9,
Markwayne Mullin for Congressional
District 2, and Joshua Harris-Till for
Congressional District 2.
For information or to reserve a
space, email Katie Beasley at tahlequahype@gmail.com or call 918-3232815.
For more information about TYPE,
visit TahlequahYPE.com.
Oct 2016 Page

27
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The Ardmoreite
and it s fun that they have that interest. The authors were able to visit the school thanks
to a grant awarded by the Ardmore Enrichment Foundation. STEPHEN LAMAR/THE ARDMOREITE
church s accountant.
SEE TILLER, PAGE 2A
ELECTION
Breaking down the ballot

Editors note: This is the last
of a two-part series focusing on
State Questions discussed at the
State Issues Forum on Tuesday
organized by the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce, Ardmore Young
Professionals and Leadership
Greater Ardmore Alumni.
By Jessica Bruha
jessica.bruha@ardmoreite.com
weeks away and with many residents already receiving absentee

ballots and early voting kicking
off next week, the time for individuals to research and educate
themselves on state issues is at
the doorstep, ringing the bell.
To help voters educate themselves on some of those issues,
several groups with the Ardmore
Chamber of Commerce organized a State Issues Forum with
Election Day is less than two
SEE BALLOT, PAGE 2A
Voting information
Sample ballots are available at the Carter County Election
Board and online at the Oklahoma State Election Boards
website, https://www.ok.gov/elections/.
/ The sample ballots
allows voters to read the State Questions prior to voting on
Election Day.
Those who wish to vote via absentee ballot can also either
pick one up at the county election board, ll one out on the
State Election Boards website, or download a print form from
the website to ll out and submit. All absentee ballots must be
submitted to the election board by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2.
Early voting will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday,
and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Polling locations will be open
from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 8.
DIGEST, PAGE 4A
MARKETS PAGE 6A
Oct 2016 Page

27
A002
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resized From
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The Ardmoreite
.98 interact and talk to the
BALLOT
Continued from Page 1A
anspeakers weighing in on
ck)
both sides. The Ardmoreite previously reported
about State Question
26,
ho- 779, Education Funding
Tax, and State Questions
780/781, Law Enforcement and Criminal Reces habilitation.
The other two quester.
tions addressed Tuesday
included State Question
777, Agriculture, and
State Question 792, Alcohol.
on
ary
on
ce
ce
Day
on.
on.
on.
ble
SQ 777, Agriculture
For local rancher Chloe
Jones, who attended the
forum Tuesday, SQ 777
was a no brainer.
I try to be an advocate
for 777 just because of
my background and, you
know, we raise cattle, but
its a great deal, Jones
said.
The forum helped
Jones gain insight on
both sides, she said.
On a couple questions,
TILLER
read Hugs not Drugs!
school to receive the cards
for everybody.
it made me think about

(the issue) a little harder,
and on others it denitely
made my decisions more
clear, Jones said.
In support of SQ 777,
Executive Vice President
of the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association Michael Kelsey spoke, saying there are two primary
reasons voting yes is a
win-win for Oklahoma.
It puts in the constitution that people have the
right to farm and ranch
Its also a win for consumers because theres so
much food choice
It give us an opportunity to do what we do
best, Kelsey told the
crowd, adding that they
are the original stewards
of the land and they want
the opportunity to do that
appropriately, rather than
see restrictions, rules and
regulations they see in
other states that are insidious and on their way
to Oklahoma.
Budd Scott, campaign
manager of Oklahomans
for Food, Farm and Fam-
ily, argued Oklahomans

already have the right
to farm. Scott said the
second part of the state
questions language concerns him because it creates the absolute highest
standard of review, which
is usually used for things
like Freedom of Speech.
The only winners in
this thing is going to be
attorneys, Scott said.
which leads to parents

leaving their children in
the car
It could contribute to
a younger, more diversied work force in the
state
Bryan Kerr, president
of the Retail Liquor Association of Oklahoma,
argued the following
points:
The retailer it would
benet most in the state
would be Walmart, not
local businesses
It would cause a monopoly at the wholesale
level, increasing the price
of strong beer and liquor
It could contribute
to teen drinking issues
since teens would have
easier access to stronger
beer and wine than they
currently do because liquor stores do not allow
minors in their establishments
It could also contribute to more DUIs as alcohol becomes more accessible later at night and on
Sundays at grocery and
convenience stores
At th ti
th
SQ 792, Alcohol
State Sen. Clark Jolley, in support of the
state question, said with
57-year-old alcohol laws
in place, it is time to modernize. Jolly discussed
some of the following
points:
It will increase tax
revenues for the state
It will be more convenient for consumers, especially with the current
limited hours and days
when consumers can purchase alcohol in the state
As a parent, you
currently cannot take a
child into a liquor store
when purchasing alcohol,
iti
i l Di t i t J d
The Herald-Democrat
Oct
27
2016
Page
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Oct 2016 Page

The Gage Record

Oct 2016 Page

The Pawnee Chief

The Pawnee Chief

The Ellis County Capital

The Logan County Courier

The County Times

Oct 2016 Page

The Oklahoma Eagle

The Anadarko Daily News

SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, the measure would prevent

Education Funding Tax

SUMMARY: If this proposal is approved, Article 8-C would be added

SUMMARY: The implementation of State Question 781 is contingent on the

Religion & the State

SUMMARY: State Question 790 addresses public funding and property

SUMMARY: If the proposal is approved, it would repeal Article 28 of the

The Anadarko Daily News

Benghazi, and that Vladimir Putin's

Seven State Questions

Oct 2016 Page

The Duncan Banner

The Edmond Sun

Taxes to the Ten Commandments: Oklahomans

ment instead and citing

STATE QUESTION 779

STATE QUESTION 780

State Question 779 is a

Investment Fund for savings created by State

liquor laws, allowing the

With the purchase of four select Yokohama tires.

Card is issued by the Bancorp Bank, Member FDIC,

2016 Yokohama Tire Corporation

The Kingfisher Times & Free Press

The Lone Grove Ledger

The Lone Grove Ledger

The Ponca City News

KLAHOMA CITY (AP)

questions, more than $1.1

you will find something in

agriculture and livestock

Oct 2016 Page

Tahlequah Daily Press

Voter Information Session set for Thursday

777), Cherokee County Democrats,

Oct 2016 Page

Breaking down the ballot

weeks away and with many residents already receiving absentee

Election Day is less than two

SEE BALLOT, PAGE 2A

Oct 2016 Page

.98 interact and talk to the

read Hugs not Drugs!

school to receive the cards

it made me think about

ily, argued Oklahomans

which leads to parents

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