Remember to vote (Woodward News)

Dwight Hughes, Superintendent at High Plains Technology Center

On November 6, 2012, Oklahoma voters will not only vote for a presidential candidate, but we will also decide six state questions to possibly amend the State Constitution.  Amending the State Constitution should not be taken lightly and I urge you to know and understand each question before you go vote.

The Oklahoma Policy Institute, www.OKPolicy.org, is a great place to go and gather good information on all six state questions.  OK Policy is a non-profit organization that provides information, analysis and ideas on state policy issues.  I have found it to be a very good unbiased organization that provides good information to help explain the issues and their impact to the public.

A quick overview of each of the state questions is listed below:

SQ 758 – this state question would reduce the cap on the maximum annual tax valuation increase for homestead properties and agricultural land from 5 percent to 3 percent.

SQ 759 – this state question would ban affirmative action in state employment, education, and contracting.

SQ 762 – this state question would remove the Governor from the parole process for less serious, non-violent offenses.

SQ 764 – this state question would create a $300 million bonding authority for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board (OWRB) in the case of water and sewage treatment loan defaults.

SQ 765 – this state question would eliminate the commission overseeing the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) and transfer its power to the Legislature and the Governor.

SQ 766 – this state question would exempt corporations’ intangible property from property taxes.

Like I stated earlier the Oklahoma Policy Institute is a great place to obtain more information on all the state questions.  OK Policy takes each question and analyzes it so that each voter is well aware of the impact to the state.   Please make sure you are informed when you go to the polls to vote and know how these state questions will affect you and your neighbors.

http://woodwardnews.net/opinion/x699461857/Remember-to-vote