OFRG Opposes OEA's Initiative Petition

An official with Oklahomans for Responsible Government said today that the Oklahoma Education Association's (OEA) submission of petition signatures to the Secretary of State brings Oklahoma one step closer to catastrophic cuts in state services, school consolidation, and/or record tax increases.

OFRG joins American Federation of Teachers-Oklahoma, an affiliated international union of the AFL-CIO, who has pointed out the detrimental impact the OEA's initiative will have on the state, "If taxes were not increased to produce enough funds to reach the regional average, state services from Medicaid, roads and bridges, public safety, to state employees would suffer budget cuts. We oppose public employees losing jobs for this petition."

AFT-Oklahoma has voted to oppose the initiative petition. (AFT-Oklahoma website)

Oklahomans for Responsible Government (OFRG) and others want transparency of current dollars first. "Taxpayers should know how their money is currently being spent," said Brian Downs, Executive Director of OFRG. "The state has increased education dollars every year since 2003 and passed a lottery that has failed. Why should Oklahoma taxpayers buy-in to another scheme without review of how current dollars are used?"

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