Public Policy

Oklahoma’s public health system plays a critical, unique role in protecting and improving health. The OKC-County Health Department (OCCHD) protects the public’s health and safety, prevents disease and health disparities, promotes healthy lifestyles, and creates partnerships in every sector to effectively link residents to needed resources.

Business and community leaders rely on public health as the foundation for a thriving workforce and economy, utilizing research and data to improve quality of life.

OCCHD is nationally recognized for its innovative strategies to address health and wellness in a preventive, holistic way. For more information visit its website or Facebook page.

– Oklahoma City-County Health Department

State Question 792 would restructure the laws governing alcoholic beverages and allow the sale of full-strength beer and wine in Oklahoma grocery stores. Currently, the law states that full-strength beer must be kept at room temperature and can only be sold in liquor stores.

This measure would ultimately allow grocery stores to sell full-strength refrigerated beer and wine. Supporters believe Oklahoma’s laws are from the Prohibition era and need to be updated to give Oklahomans the same access as consumers in 45 other states.

Opponents say increased competition from grocery stores would hurt Oklahoma’s independent liquor retailers.

Oklahoma State Question 776 would introduce an amendment to the Constitution of Oklahoma, giving the state legislature authority over execution methods, provided the methods do not violate the US Constitution, in administering the death penalty.

The new amendment would codify that the death penalty cannot be considered cruel or unusual punishment under Oklahoma’s Constitution, however, some execution methods may be considered cruel and unusual.

In the meantime, a blue-ribbon bipartisan Oklahoma Death Penalty Review Commission is studying the entire death penalty process and will issue recommendations in early 2017. This state question precedes completion of that Commission’s final recommendations.

State Question 777 would potentially add what is colloquially known as the “Right to Farm” amendment to the Constitution of Oklahoma. It would declare that “the rights of citizens and lawful residents of Oklahoma to engage in farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state.”

The proposal would ultimately forbid the state from regulating the use of agricultural technology, livestock procedures and ranching practices.

Proponents say the amendment may protect farm-related jobs and multi-generation farming families. Opponents believe consequences could occur, like polluted waters, contaminated environments and unsafe food sources from inhumane treatment of livestock.

State Question 779, known as the “Penny Sales Tax,” would raise the state sales tax by 1%. The tax revenue would be applied toward the state education budget and is projected to increase spending by an estimated $615 million per year.

Proponents say the measure would guarantee much-needed additional education funds that are unable to be used for other purposes by the state legislature.

Opponents believe higher sales taxes could hurt city governments’ abilities to raise or maintain their own sales taxes, which are needed to pay for services such as water, sanitation, street services, police and fire protection.

State Question 780 is a measure that would reduce the classification of some crimes from a felony to a misdemeanor. Specifically, it would declassify simple drug possession charges from a felony to a misdemeanor. It would also declassify some property crimes and increase the amount of property stolen to equal a felony from $500 to $1000.

Oklahoma State Question 781 is a measure that would use the funds saved by incarcerating fewer people due to State Question 780 to create drug rehabilitation and mental health care programs.

Of course, State Question 781 cannot pass unless State Question 780 also passes.

Oklahoma State Question 790 is a measure to remove Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution, which prohibits government spending of public money for religious purposes.

This is in response to the Ten Commandments Monument, which stood outside the Oklahoma Capitol before the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled it had to be taken down due to Article 2, Section 5.

Proponents say government should allow equal access to public spaces for established religious institutions. Opponents believe it would expose the state to expensive federal lawsuits by any and all traditional and nontraditional “religious” groups to place monuments in public spaces.

On Tuesday, April 5, Tulsa voters will decide on Vision Tulsa – the 0.6 percent tax package extension of the original Vision 2025 initiative passed in 2003.

Without raising taxes, Vision Tulsa will invest $884.1 million in our great city. There are three components to Vision Tulsa: public safety, streets and transportation, and economic development. All of these aspects are important.

If it passes, Tulsa could have 160 new police officers working the streets and 65 new firefighters. Additionally, this is an opportunity for better streets, which are desperately needed. To learn more about Vision Tulsa, visit the website.

– Connie Pearson, Jones PR