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Term limit expansion finds hefty support

It would restrict tenures in all statewide elected offices.


By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Published: 1/26/2010  2:20 AM
Last Modified: 1/26/2010  4:19 AM

Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly support a proposed state constitutional amendment that would extend term limits to all statewide offices, the latest Oklahoma Poll found.

More than three-fourths of the 621 likely voters surveyed said they favor the proposed amendment, which is expected to appear on a statewide ballot this year.

Only 17 percent opposed the idea.

The proposition, State Question 747, would limit lieutenant governors, attorneys general, state auditors, labor commissioners, insurance commissioners and superintendents of public instruction to two four-year terms. Corporation commissioners, who serve six-year terms, would also be limited to two terms.

Governors are already limited to two consecutive terms, but the proposed amendment eliminates language allowing additional non-consecutive terms.

Legislators are already limited to 12 years in office.

SQ 747 is one of nine state questions that could go on Oklahoma ballots this year. They include one that would make it easier to put more issues on the ballot, and two that essentially cancel each other out.

One poll respondent, Berlina Younger of Tulsa, said it would be nice if legislators could settle issues without so many of them winding up on the ballot "if they would do it responsibly. That's the problem. The government controls so much without asking the public. I think voting is really
the only way (legislators) are going to listen."

The Oklahoma Poll asked about six of the nine potential state questions. Sherwood "Woody" Kahl of Owasso said he had not heard of any of them, but he didn't worry.

"As I get close to the election, that's when I'll go educate myself," he said. "I'll only vote if I feel like I'm educated enough. I think a lot of people have no idea and go in there and try to form an opinion in 15 seconds."

Besides SQ 747, the survey covered:

  • State Question 744: A proposed constitutional amendment requiring that education funding be equal to the per-pupil average of surrounding states. Legislative leaders warn that the provision is unworkable without sizable tax increases or cuts to other areas of state government or both, but 61 percent of those surveyed said they favored it. Less than one-fourth opposed it.


  • State Question 746: This would require government-issued photo identification to vote. Proponents say it is necessary to prevent voter fraud. Opponents say it may be unconstitutional; they also point out that Oklahoma has had no convictions or even credible allegations of voter fraud in decades. More than 80 percent of those surveyed favored the proposal.


  • State Question 750: This would reduce the number of signatures needed for an initiative petition to reach a vote of the people. Poll respondents were uncertain about this proposal: 45 percent opposed it, 38 percent favored it and 17 percent were undecided.


  • State Question 751: This would make English the state's official language. Eighty-three percent favored the proposal, and 13 percent opposed it.


  • State Question 754: This would essentially negate SQ 744. Put on the ballot by the Legislature, it proposes a state constitutional amendment to ban the sort of funding quota proposed by the other state question. Theoretically, the two questions could wind up on the same ballot this year — and both could pass. If that happens, SQ 754 contains a provision that gives it priority.


Oklahoma Poll respondents voted 57 percent to 22 percent against this proposal, with 21 percent undecided.

Other potential ballot measures are SQ 748 (non-partisan reapportionment commission), SQ 752 (judicial nominating commission) and SQ 753 (Workers Compensation Court appointments).

About the Oklahoma Poll

SoonerPoll.com conducted the scientific telephone survey Jan. 2-5 of 621 likely voters registered in the state. The poll includes 325 Democrats, 267 Republicans, 28 Independents and one Libertarian.

The margin of error is plus or minus 3.93 percentage points.

The poll is sponsored by the Tulsa World.

Randy Krehbiel 581-8365
randy.krehbiel@tulsaworld.com

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Comments
JDH, Tulsa (7 months ago)
Term limits are something that needs to be done at the national level as well.
Elusive, somewhere (7 months ago)
Well it's about time for term limits to be voted on by the people. The same should be done on a federal level as well. It is ridiculous for the Legislature to put SQ744 on the ballot confusing voters as to what they are voting for. This will require a lot of media coverage so people will make the right choice.
DonInTulsa, (7 months ago)
Term limits, in my opinion, only protect the voters from their own stupid choices, reelecting the same bozos time after time. But,considering some of the folks Oklahomans continue to reelect, maybe we need this safeguard.
Get out of my bidness!, The Republic of the United States of America (7 months ago)
The reason that public schools underachieve has nothing to do with money. VOTE NO SQ 744, or see your taxes rise. The term limits would be unnecessary entirely if we were voting to change the system to a cabinet form of government. Do any of really have any idea what the Labor Commissioner does? Or even Sandy Garret? I have to look it up just to remember who the Labor commissioner is.
Eagle 4, Tulsa (7 months ago)
Only in Oklahoma! 744 to keep up with the Joneses and 754 to sell the mansion and fancy car if we do keep up!

Smaller, limited government? We already do that by reelecting the good ol' boys we've got. We are talking brain power, aren't we?

750 makes sense because 754 will limit how many Rednecks will actually be able to sign their names!

746 is a building block of the coming Reicht-Gestapo and 751 is the cement. Rednecks should pass both by wide but narrowminded margins.

Looks like another year of truly meaningful legislation...HAHAHAHAHA!
my view, Sand Springs (7 months ago)
A Yes vote on state question 744 will bring a large increase in taxes. It's a misguided attempt by state teachers to get a larger share of the state budget at the expense of all other departments.

State Question 744 deserves to be soundly defeated.

Message to state voters how deep are your pockets.
genelewis, (7 months ago)
Why are people so eager to restrict their own choice of who to elect? That's what term limits do. Not to mention that they kick out the most experienced and successful politicians, and leave it to inexperienced people who have to depend on staff and lobbyists to know how to navigate government. We complain about corruption and incompetence in government, but then we support measures like this that only give more influence to lobbyists and special interests.
notherwannabe, (7 months ago)
By keeping the same good ole boys in office means that they are only representing each other. Do what the founding fathers set up. Go represent your neighbors for two years and then go back home.
We don't need career self serving power brokers.
bluedog1, (7 months ago)
744 was not put on the ballot by the Legislature, it was by the petition process. Oklahomans should have a right to massively direct the government, not politicians who are guided largely by campaign contributions, even tho elected by people watching Corporate commercial. Ever buy something based from a commercial?? Research says we do and it pays for your free TV!!!!
stephenrhymer, elk city (7 months ago)
Oklahoma already has Term Limits. Elections.

Call elections Term Limits for dummies. All you have to do is register one time and then show up on election day to vote.

It's not as easy as having some law do the dirty work for you but you do get the personal satisfaction of participating in the electoral process.

If you want someone out of office, vote them out.

On the other hand, if one district or state wants some bozo to be their representative and continue to elect that person, so be it. That's how our state and our Republic works.

As you can see from our own state government, most term limited officials find a new office to run for. All that Term Limits has accoplished is shuffling a full time elected official from one office to the other.

Term Limits also forces out of office the good public servants who have the institutional knowledge to keep things moving and to teach the new kids on the block how things work.

If Oklahomans would only get half as excited about elections and state government as they do about OU and OSU football, we wouldn't have a problem with ner-do-well elected officials and their inattention to the problems of our state.

Voters only have themselves to blame for bad public servants, bad laws, too many taxes and all the other things government does that people profess not to like.

Term Limits is the lazy voters solution to removing people from office.
Mar, Tulsa (7 months ago)
I agree with notherwannabe.
Bluebell, Tulsa (7 months ago)
Elected politicians should be limited to one term. especially the POTUS and all judges. They think their above the law. Everything's been going downhill since Jan.2009.national debt, unemployment, 40 czars with secret powers,nancy & old harry keeps replotting their bummer care scheme. Is this the CHANGE you bummer voters wanted?
okie ridgerunner, Small Country Town State Line (7 months ago)
JDH, Said it right. i agree.

I allso agree with notherwanbe.
gadfly, Broken Arrow (7 months ago)
Individuals who want to vote should be required to pass the same test as those who want to become American citizens. Crazy people,and people who can't even name the major candidates, should not be able to vote, until they are sane, or can name the major candidates. Term limits would not be necessary if something was done to ensure that voters had some basic idea of what they were doing. Illiterate? Learn to read before you get to vote.
KJNOKIE, TULSA (7 months ago)
Why don't we have a selection of languages from which to choose from the official language? What a waste of money!!!
Woofenburger, Hominy (7 months ago)
Throw the rascals out!
my view, Sand Springs (7 months ago)
KJNOKIE,

You could have a selection of languages the majority would pick English; Your free to speak anything you like nobody will stop you.
Thunder196, Tulsa (7 months ago)
If the only way we can get out from under this ball and chain bunch, then bring on the term limits.

I have mostly been against term limits. I always felt you will be getting rid of the good politicians also. I no longer feel this way.

This last year has been wasted dealing with abortion, 10 commandments on government property, marriage counseling, restrictions on couples with kids who want a divorce, casinos, lottery, etc. I don't want their personal religious opinions shoved down my throat.
.
What has been ignored is the economy, peoples needs who are unemployed. I guess food, clothing and housing are not necessities. Texting and driving issue ignored. We rank 4th from the bottom in education. Food for the elderly was ignored until there was a backlash. There are too many things more important then their pet projects.
The A Team, (7 months ago)
I will support a vote to lower the threshold for initiative petitions. Yes on 750.
Griff, Glenpool (7 months ago)
I am sooo confused.... I don't know which way to turn or what to... "oh no, look out for the Wicked Witch from Washington. It's just Nancy Smellosi."
Faith, (7 months ago)
What stephenrhymer posted.
Faith, (7 months ago)
Why haven't people thrown ours out, Inhofe, Sullivan and Coburn.
Faith, (7 months ago)
bluedog1 you hit this on the nail head.

I beleive it will only be more corrupt due to the decision of the five activist judges. A corporation isn't an individual and now foreign countries will have power in our elections.
razorbacker, Tulsa (7 months ago)
I would like to see term limits taken a step farther. There needs to be a regulation that ANY elected official running for an office (except an incumbant seeking re-election) have to resign their current office to run for the higher one. This would be for city council persons running for Mayor, up to Senators running for President. Not only would we not have to pay them while they were not working and out campaigning, it would also cause some of them to reflect on just how dedicated they were about running.
proenglishusa, (7 months ago)
Yes, please support and pass making English our official language.

To learn more, please Google proenglishusa.blogspot

Thank you
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