Agricultural News
American Farmers & Ranchers Calls for a NO Vote on State Question 744
Wed, 13 Oct 2010 5:26:46 CDT
One of the groups lined up in opposition of State Question 744 is the American Farmers and Ranchers. We talked in recent days with President Terry Detrick about this issue- and you can hear our full conversation with Detrick about 744 by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
AFR says there are several problems with this State Question. In their October Newspaper to their membership Managing Editor Anita Poole writes "There is no issue on November's state ballot which has the potential to affect Oklahoma and its citizens more than Proposition 744, which is known to some as the "Hope Initiative".
American Farmers & Ranchers and Oklahoma Farmers Union are strong supporters of education in Oklahoma, and our policy which has been developed through grassroots efforts through the last 105 years is opposed to Proposition 744. AFR's policy specifically states that the company supports the adequate funding of schools and fair distribution of state assets to school districts as well as the ability of school districts to raise incentive millage to support educational needs. AFR supports local control of school districts as well as full funding by legislature of mandated teacher's salaries or other educational expenditures. AFR supports the Oklahoma education system, our students, our teachers and our administration!
At the 2010 Annual Convention, AFR adopted as a special order of business the following:
"AFR has a long tradition of supporting public education and the youth of our state, and we remain steadfast in that position. The leadership and membership of this great organization look forward to the day Oklahoma school systems are funded at or above the regional average. However, the initiative issue referred to as the HOPE initiative (SQ 744) would cause enormous and irreparable damage to every facet of state government by forcing devastating cuts to all other state budgets. AFR has no alternative but to actively oppose this initiative."
AFR is a part of the One Oklahoma Coalition that is coordinating a "NO" vote on this State Question in the November 2nd election. Click here to jump to their website for more on why AFR and other ag groups stand with many other organizations in opposing SQ744.
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