There Go Our Tax Dollars…Again
No one should be surprised that career politicians, including many state legislators, oppose State Question 744. SQ 744 takes control of education funding out of their hands and no one likes losing power – least of all politicians and bureaucrats.
But it’s these career politicians who let Oklahoma plummet to 49th in the nation in investing in our children’s education in the first place. Voters will hold them accountable – via SQ744- for their lack of willingness to invest in our kids.
These same politicians probably also don’t want the public to focus on how they DO choose to spend taxpayer dollars.
Such as:
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Spending more than $1.5 million on travel for themselves, including trips to Canada, Cuba and many states with fine resorts.
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Choosing to stay at the Ritz-Carlton and use limousine services during their travel.
What did these trips and junkets produce for the hard-working taxpayers of Oklahoma? When asked by News on 6, Senator Brian Bingman said, “Uh, there’s probably, I’d have to think about that.”
While he’s thinking about what to say to the taxpayers who funded his Canadian vacation, we’d like to know which career politicians to hold accountable for providing $18 million in tax credits for a rocket ship company that went bankrupt?
Rocketplane promised to bring jobs to Oklahoma and put Oklahoma’s Spaceport on the map, producing rocket ships to carry tourists into space. Our generous state legislators wanted to help and provided tax credits through the Space Transportation Vehicle Provider Credit. The company apparently didn’t use all those tax credits. So, did they return unused credits to the taxpayers of Oklahoma?
No. Rocketplane was allowed to sell those tax credits to a more needy institution – Bank of America.
Our hats are off to career politicians and state legislators who think staying at the Ritz, traveling in chauffeured limousines, and squandering taxpayer money on rocket ships and big banks is more important than investing in a quality education for our children. They have a lot of nerve to tell citizens that we cannot afford to give our kids smaller classes and up-to-date books and then turn around and use taxpayer money to jet off to Cuba and Canada.
We hope voters will hold them accountable.
One Oklahoma Coalition Fact Check…Volume #3
The lies, half-truths and distortions keep rolling in from these anti-public education champions.
It is worth noting that citizens were denied access to this "public" press conference.
ONE OKLAHOMA COALITION FACT CHECK…Volume 2….
Myth vs. Facts
ONE OKLAHOMA COALITION “Fact” Sheet on SQ 744
MYTH: “…SQ 744 denies us, and our elected officials, the ability to control how government bureaucrats spend tax dollars meant to educate our children…” (See the red arrow)
FACT: SQ 744 puts the power to decide education funding in the hands of Oklahomans. For too long, career politicians have short-changed our children by refusing to invest in our public schools. In fact, Oklahoma ranks dead last in our region and 49th in the nation, in investments in elementary and secondary education. SQ 744 changes that and brings education support up to the regional average so our children can compete with kids from Arkansas and Texas.
Sorry folks, this one doesn’t pass the smell test.
MYTH: “…in the first year alone, SQ 744 would strip $800 million from all areas of state services…” (See the purple arrow)
FACT: First, SQ 744 takes no funding away from other state services. Second, SQ 744 allows for a three-year phase in period. The measure simply requires the state to fund public schools at a level equal to the regional average, so that our kids will be able to compete for the jobs of the future. And there is a three-year phase in of the program.
FACT: SQ 744 does not mandate cuts in other state services. These scare tactics come from state legislators who want to protect their own power – and do NOT want voters “telling” them how to prioritize state funding. They will say anything to protect their “turf”. Yet time and again, these career politicians have denied our children access to a quality public education by continually cutting education funds, allowing our children to fall behind children living in Arkansas and Texas.
The rest of this 'fact' sheet is riddled with fear mongering, half-truths and outright lies. Please educate yourself!
It’s not name-calling if it’s true…
It’s not name-calling if it’s true…
Recently the Oklahoma Policy Institute (OPI or "OK Policy") spoke against SQ 744 in a report that was written to fit the conclusion that SQ 744 is bad for Oklahoma. When Yes on 744 pointed out that the process for this document was politically motivated and a little backwards – making the evidence fit the conclusion rather than vice versa – OPI and anti-education forces responded that we were name-calling.
So let’s examine the facts and then see what conclusion we reach:
Fact #1 – Albert “Kell” Kelly, president of Spirit Bank, is on OPI’s board of directors.
Fact #2 – Kell Kelly is currently the co-chairman of TRUST, the most vocal opponent of SQ 744.
Fact #3 – Kell Kelly also serves on the boards of the Oklahoma State Chamber and the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, two other organizations who have stated their opposition to SQ 744.
So it wasn’t surprising to us when a policy institute that shares leadership with three anti-744 groups put out a statement saying that 744 isn’t good for Oklahoma. What did surprise us was how much all those groups panicked when we pointed out the connections.
Did Kell and his associates really think they could keep their coordination a secret?
In the future, we hope that when OPI Board of Directors chooses to distribute their perspective on an issue, they will do the public the courtesy of acknowledging any potential conflicts of interest. Any credible media outlet is required to declare shared ownership or financial interest with the subject of a story. We think the OPI Board should hold themselves to the same standard.
Oklahoma Lottery: MYTHS vs. FACTS
Oklahoma Lottery: MYTHS vs. FACTS
MYTH: Lottery money for education will be on top of current spending.
FACT: It is true that the Lottery Act specifically states that “Net proceeds of all lottery games are to be used to support improvements and enhancements for education purposes and programs; furthermore, net proceeds will be used to SUPPLEMENT rather than replace existing funds for education.”
Unfortunately for Oklahoma’s students, this is not happening. The legislature has decided to, yet again, shortchange our kids by using lottery funds to disguise and fill holes in cuts to education.
MYTH: All the money raised by selling lottery tickets would go to K-12 and higher education.
FACT: According to the Lottery Act, 45% of funds are set aside for prizes, 35% is designated for K-12 and higher education, and 20% goes for Lottery administration and overhead. (http://durantdemocrat.com/view/full_story_obit/5711576/article-Lottery-not-a-cure-all?)
MYTH: The Lottery has raised millions for education.
FACT: In fact, the $300 million figure used by Lottery officials represents education’s share of the lottery proceeds over a four year time span. However, that is far less than originally predicted because the lottery has underperformed since its beginning. For several years, education’s share of the lottery money has gone down as lottery revenue has been less than predicted. (http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/WireHeadlines/2009/06/10/lottery-education-dollars-slipping-in-ok-71.php) Funds from the lottery represent only 1% of spending per student in Oklahoma. (http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=11159249 or http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=11974824)
HOWEVER, the state Legislature has REDUCED general fund expenditures for education and used lottery dollars to REPLACE general fund dollars. The “replacement” has not been dollar for dollar, though, leaving school districts with ever smaller state support. (http://durantdemocrat.com/view/full_story_obit/5711576/article-Lottery-not-a-cure-all?) State Superintendent Sandy Garrett noted that during fiscal year 2005, her department got 37.5 percent of the state budget pie. The following year, when the lottery began, common education's share went down to 35.7 percent, and still lower for 2007 at 35.4 percent, and 35.5 percent for fiscal year 2008. (http://www.urbantulsa.comhttp://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A17599)
MYTH: There is no way to track how much lottery money schools receive.
FACT: The state Department of Education produces an accounting annually showing how much school districts receive from the lottery. The 2008-2009 lottery proceed breakdown can be found at http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/griffin/NEWS9/PDF/1002/Leg.%20Req.%200903B%202-11-10.pdf)
Nice Slogan…But Not True…
Anti-public education activist Brian Downs, in an interview about SQ 744 with the Bartlesville-Examiner, claimed that supporting kids and schools is, "Taxation without Representation"
It’s a nifty slogan, and helped to create our country, but Mr. Downs is demonstrating why Oklahoma students need a better education - especially in history.
Perhaps he and his special interest cronies need a bit of perspective?
SQ 744 DOES NOT impose or raise any taxes. In fact, the ballot title specifically states that “the measure does not raise taxes...” LOOK FOR YOURSELF (Scroll down to the highlighted area of the ballot title)
SQ 744 DOES NOT take away voting rights, disband the legislature, keep them from appropriating funds, or in any way inhibit your ability to contact your legislator and ensure that your voice is heard.
SQ 744 DOES put the power to make our kids and schools a priority into the hands of THE PEOPLE of Oklahoma.
Downs’ statement is at best scare tactics and at worst an intentional attempt to mislead people; Oklahomans know better. Sorry, Mr. Downs.
The FACT is that, by establishing a formula for school investment we take the politics out of education funding and keep our kids from being used as a political football. SQ 744 will give Oklahoma’s students the resources they need to compete for the jobs of the future.
R.O.P.E. Fact Check
The folks over at "Restore Oklahoma Public Education" aka R.O.P.E need a bit of fact checking on the PowerPoint they have on their website. We are happy to help! See below.
1. R.O.P.E. says: Slide 20- OK public education system needs less money
Truth is: The numbers don’t lie. Oklahoma already invests less in its students than any other state in the region, and 45 other states in the nation. Now R.O.P.E. wants to shrink that investment even further!
2. R.O.P.E. says: Slide 4- "Good News: SQ744 Will Not Raise Taxes"
Truth is: Shockingly, R.O.P.E. actually got this one right. SQ 744 specifically says that, “[T]he measure does not raise taxes...”
3. R.O.P.E. says: Slide 10- Don't forget to include site specific fund raising by parents and students;
Truth is: R.O.P.E. wants parents and teachers to continue paying out of their own pockets for materials and supplies our schools cannot afford. Instead of going door-to-door selling wrapping paper and candy bars our students should be learning. Instead of shortchanging our students, we should eliminate legislator slush funds.
4. R.O.P.E. says: Slide 16- More Overhead Costs
Truth is: SQ 744 does not create any additional overhead. It simply removes the politics from education investment so that your kids have access to the tools they need to prepare for tomorrow’s competitive job market.
5. R.O.P.E. says: Slide 17- Education... a Cartel?
Truth is: Well, if you can’t be right, there’s always calling teachers names!
6. R.O.P.E. says: “As worded on the ballot, this question is extremely deceitful”
Truth is: Actually, the ballot is very clearly worded and easy to understand. See for yourself.