Wednesday, June 21, 2006

A Trojan Horse Called TABOR

The disastrous so-called Tax Payers Bill of Rights (TABOR) initiative petition campaign challenge is winding down and if all goes as expected it will go the way of its companion eminent domain petition.

In a 6-3 opinion yesterday the state's Supreme Court struck down an initiative petition to protect landowners in eminent domain actions, saying it violates the constitution because it deals with more than one subject.

Both petitions were circulated by Oklahomans in Action. We've heard stories of out-of-state felons serving as petition circulators and that thousands of the signatures gathered were unverifiable --- which should sink this effort to destroy our state.

The Alliance for Oklahoma's Future is the watchdog for this "bill of goods" and if they are successful in stopping TABOR from being on the November ballot Oklahoma we will all be grateful.

Read more about this trojan horse and the Alliance read this at the Progressive States Network.

Oklahoma's Citizens Policy Center is also doing work to stop TABOR.
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2 comments:

Aticus88 said...

Thanks for the TABOR update and the links. I’m glad to see that there is good discussion about the dangers of the TABOR initiative in Oklahoma.

Seems that Montana is having some difficulties with the issue of properly obtaining signatures on TABOR petitions and the story reminded me of the allegations that similar things were happening here. Here’s the Montana story: http://thinkprogress.org/2006/06/20/montana-tabor/. And here is the citizen’s response in Montana: http://www.notinmontana.org/index.php.

And of course, the TABOR law in Colorado has been disastrous (http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060605/OPINION04/606050312&SearchID=73246872956413) where it forced the legislature to cut higher education, public health and environmental protection. Citizens fought back and in a referendum, temporarily lifted the caps imposed by TABOR, and the battle continues.

So I’m very pleased to see several web sites with thoughtful, researched material dedicated to defeating the TABOR initiative here. Now we need volunteers to help with time and money to work to keep this travesty off the ballot.

There is an interesting book and web site that gets at the fundamental reasons why some want to force a TABOR on us all: http://www.noyoyoeconomics.com/. It outlines the YOYO economy – “you’re on your own” – that so many of the Republicans are trying to impose under the guise of cutting taxes.

Every time someone says they support TABOR, they should also indicate what they intend to cut in government services. Teachers pay? Foster care? Bridge and highway repair? Health services for the poor? Education? Law enforcement?

Support of any TABOR initiative or promise to cut more taxes appeals to a selfish side of the human nature and ultimately promotes the YOYO economic model. But in a democracy, there are things we all support through our taxes that serve the common good.

8:18 AM
ODP Chairman said...

A Supreme Court referee advised today that the petition should be thrown out. Too many signatures were invalid.

8:12 PM

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