Pauls Valley Chamber Says No to State Question

Pauls Valley, OK, Pauls Valley Daily Democrat
September 27, 2010
Chamber says no to state question
Barry Porterfield
Pauls Valley Daily Democrat

Pauls Valley, Oklahoma — Board members of the Pauls Valley Chamber of Commerce have said no to one state question and could take a position on a controversial liquor by the drink measure on the Garvin County ballot during an election in just a few weeks.

This week a total of 13 local chamber board members voted to join an organized campaign that opposes State Question 744 — a measure that if passed would require Oklahoma to minimally fund K-12 education at an amount equal to the six-state regional average.

Voters will decide the issue and 10 other state questions during a general election on Nov. 2.

Chamber board members here got a jump on the election when they voted this week to oppose the question.

Board chairman Brent Thompson said the group naturally supports education in the state but believes this state question in its current form is not the way to provide that needed help for our public schools.

“Everyone agreed we have to spend more on education and our children,” Thompson said.

“There are a lot of people who want to support education, but this is not the right vehicle. We looked at research both for and against 744. The big flaw we saw was the lack of funding. How is the state question going to be funded assuming there’s no increase in revenue,” he said.

“Our mission at the chamber is to support economic development in our community.”

Opponents of 744 believe the state question is off base because it has no funding mechanism and will likely lead to higher taxes or a decrease in vital state services.

Della Wilson, president of the PV chamber, said all 13 chamber board members attending this week’s meeting voted to join the organized effort opposing 744.

“We took the policy position opposing State Question 744. The resolution was unanimous in opposition of the state question,” Wilson said.

“I think we’re one of the first rural communities to make this resolution official. Now the Pauls Valley Chamber of Commerce will on their list of organizations opposing 744,” she said.

Wilson was referring to the State Chamber of Oklahoma, which has for months been working to garner support for its public stand in opposition to 744.

“The state chamber asked our board to pass a resolution opposing 744. They guide us and provide us with much needed information, particularly in the legislative arena,” Wilson said.

“The state chamber believes it’s bad for business; that the bad parts of the state question overrides the good parts. They are working to educate people about this state question.”

The same local chamber board is also planning to soon consider taking a position to support, oppose or remain neutral on the hotly contested liquor by the drink measure on the November ballot here in Garvin County.

In fact, a special chamber board meeting is planned from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5 to look closer at the issue.

“We are doing more research on liquor by the drink,” Thompson said.

“This meeting is to look at both sides of the issue. This will not be a bashing session but a fact finding thing,” he said.

Four years ago the chamber board did not support or oppose liquor by the drink, instead deciding to remain neutral on the issue, which was ultimately turned down by voters.

Wilson stresses the whole point of the meeting is for the board to give both supporters and opponents an opportunity to address the economic side of the issue.

“Our community expects the business community to make a statement in favor of or in opposition to liquor by the drink or remain neutral,” Wilson said.

“The economic impact of liquor by the drink is the whole reason for this special meeting. The board will look at the impact that it would have on Pauls Valley. That’s the purpose of this meeting,” she said.

“The chamber represents 300 businesses and any decision we make is with their best interest in mind.”

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