State Senate approves joint resolutions calling for constitutional amendments via Article V process

Senate approves joint resolutions calling for constitutional amendments

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 21st) – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has won approval for two measures that call for amending the U.S. Constitution. Bergstrom is the Senate principal author of House Joint Resolution 1017 and HJR 1032, which were approved by the full Senate Thursday.

“Since Washington D.C. doesn’t know how to balance a budget or understand that all powers not granted by the U.S. Constitution to the federal government are reserved to the states, the Oklahoma Legislature is stepping up with resolutions to help change that,” Bergstrom said.

Hot Seat: AFP's Tidwell and Rep. Wright on repealing SQ640

John Tidwell, Oklahoma Director for Americans For Prosperity, recently went on News9's Hot Seat with Scott Mitchell to discuss moves in the Legislature to repeal SQ640 and lower the threshold for raising taxes, and why and what AFP-OK will do to oppose those efforts:

(if the Tidwell interview does not play, you can view it here)

Last week, State Rep. Harold Wright, the author of the measure to reduce taxpayer protections, also appeared on Hot Seat to discuss the topic:

(if the Wright interview does not play, you can view it here)

Yes, let's move state taxation to the school bond process

Yesterday, State Rep. Harold Wright (R-Weatherford), the number two Republican in the State House, announced that he was filing a bill to call a state question that would amend the Constitution to lower the legislative revenue-raising threshold from 75% to 60%.

His argument is that this would be in line with the 60% requirement in school bond issues: "This is why I am proposing legislation that would put to a vote a change in the revenue-raising requirement in the constitution that would lower the requirement to 60 percent, the same as a school bond issue. Many agree that this would be a fair compromise and still make it difficult to raise revenue."

I would fully support changing legislative tax raising abilities in line with the school bond process. Let's compare how taxes can currently be raised in Oklahoma:

Taxation at the state level:

• The legislature can raise taxes only with 3/4ths vote in favor
• The legislature can send taxes hikes to a vote of the people, where it passes with majority vote (50%+1)
• Taxes can be raised with majority vote (50%+1) via initiative petition

County sales taxes:

• Cannot be raised by the county commissioners
• Must go to a vote of the people
• Can pass with a majority vote (50%+1)

For school bond elections:

• School districts cannot raise tax rates
• Bond increases or renewals go to a vote of the people
• School bonds require a 60% vote in favor

I appreciate Rep. Wright's suggestion that we change how the legislature can tax to the process school bonds go through. 

If we did that, the Legislature would be unable to raise any taxes, would be required to bring tax increases to a vote of the people, and such ballot measures would necessitate 60% affirmative vote for passage.

Count me on board with that.

House Leadership files bill to lower tax-hike threshold

And so it begins.

Wright Seeks to Lower Revenue-Raising Threshold Created by SQ640

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Speaker Pro Tempore Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, has authored legislation to direct the Oklahoma Secretary of State to refer to the people an amendment to Section 33 of Article V of the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma.

House Joint Resolution 1032 looks to amend the state’s constitutional requirement for the number of votes needed in the Legislature to pass revenue raising legislation. Currently, due to the passage of State Question 640, which was passed in March of 1992, revenue-raising legislation requires a three-fourths vote of both the Oklahoma House of Representatives and Senate.

Wright’s legislation would change the requirement to pass revenue-raising measures to three-fifths of the Legislature.

“This has been the most difficult legislative year since I was elected,” Wright said. “Partly because of two special extraordinary sessions but also because it has been impossible to pass necessary revenue measures to provide for adequate core services in Oklahoma: roads and bridges, public safety, education, public health and corrections.

“This is why I am proposing legislation that would put to a vote a change in the revenue-raising requirement in the constitution that would lower the requirement to 60 percent, the same as a school bond issue. Many agree that this would be a fair compromise and still make it difficult to raise revenue. There will be opposition to this measure, but I hope you will support the change in order to make your state government more effective.”

Wright represents House District 57, which is comprised of Beckham, Blaine, Caddo, Canadian and Custer Counties.