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Seminole Producer

Municipal Officials Expressing Their Opposition

To State Questions Debated on Your Vote Counts
Proposed state constitutional amendments, and
municipal officials expressing their opinions about a
couple of those proposals,
dominated the debate on the
Your Vote Counts television
program Sunday.
Among the state questions that will appear on the
general election ballot Nov. 8
is SQ 777, the right to farm
measure. The Oklahoma
City Council passed a resolution last week expressing
its collective opposition to
the proposal.
SQ 777, which originated
with the right-wing American Legislative Exchange
Council (ALEC), is a bad
idea, said state Rep. Jason
Dunnington,
D-Oklahoma
City. The measure was
put together by politicians
for corporations, he said.
If approved by the voters,
It will likely be the largest
agriculture giveaway to multinational corporations in the
United States.

Right-to-Farm is hugely
popular in rural Oklahoma,
said Rep. Leslie Osborn, RMustang.
Former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson and out-of-state animal
rights activist groups have
distributed a lot of misinformation about the measure,
she claimed without providing specifics.
Three events the Oklahoma Youth Expo, which is
billed as the worlds largest junior livestock show;
the National Reining Horse
Derby; and the American
Quarter Horse Association
World Championship Show
generated $70 million in
tax receipts for Oklahoma
City last year, Osborn said.
Consequently, she wondered, Why is the council
going against agriculture?
Program moderator Scott
Mitchell recalled that officials
of several municipalities
have publicly expressed their
opinions about SQs 777 and/

or SQ 779, the penny sales

tax proposed by University of
Oklahoma President David
Boren to benefit public education in Oklahoma.
Oklahoma City attorney
David Slane contends its
illegal for municipal leaders
to use tax money to oppose
or favor state questions. To
pass resolutions, city councils use taxpayer money for
everything from paying legal
counsel for advice to buying
paper and paying for electricity, he pointed out.
Petitions were circulated
and thousands of voter signatures were collected to get
an issue placed on the ballot,
Slane observed. And they
want to have a vote. And the
idea that cities and public
officials would use public
funds to fight those very taxpayers is appalling.
Slane
indicated
hes
poised to file a lawsuit over
the issue but is holding off
for now. Sen. Anastasia Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, said

the reason is to give the

Attorney General an opportunity to clarify how we are to
interpret our state statutes.
The Oklahoma Attorney
Generals office said, in a
written statement, that its
looking into the issue.
State law makes it a
misdemeanor offense for
municipal officials to get
involved with an initiative
petition that will be on the
ballot, Osborn said. It may
be time for municipalities to
get out of the state-question
business.
As a resident of Oklahoma City, Im thankful our
City Council is stepping up
to do whats best for its citizens by asking them to vote
no on SQ 777, Dunnington
said.
For years the City Council
has been struggling with a
Republican-controlled Legislature that continues to put
its foot on the cities necks,
he said. Dunnington specifically referred to:

Senate Bill 1023, another

ALEC proposal that was
enacted in 2014 to prohibit
any municipality or subdivision in Oklahoma from
establishing a mandatory
minimum number of paid
vacation or sick days or a
minimum wage rate that an
employer would be required
to pay its employees; and
Senate Bill 809, enacted
in 2015, which bars cities
and towns from prohibiting
oil/gas activities within their
corporate limits.
The Legislature has been
meddling with cities and
municipalities too much,
Dunnington said.
Initiative and referendum
measures are examples of
direct democracy, Mitchell
said, and he noted that both
the House of Representatives and the Senate will
have new leadership teams
next year. Nevertheless, he
continued, Governor Fallin
said she would run some
old ideas out there, and he

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.

asked the two legislators for

their opinions about that.
Its not very good optics,
Osborn replied. Its time to
look at fresh ideas. To say
were going to recycle the
same old ideas comes off
flat.
Its time for new ideas,
and new ideas come with
new leadership, Dunnington
said. Weve had deficits for
the last four or five years
-- $188 million in Fiscal Year
2015, $611 million in FY
2016, and $1.3 billion for
FY 2017 and its time for a
new cast and crew to work on
the problems our state has.
Your Vote Counts is a 10minute program that features
a point-counterpoint format.
Its aired Sunday mornings
on KWTV in Oklahoma City
and then is streamed on
the Internet. The Sept. 18
program can be found at
http://www.news9.com/clip/
12738783/your-vote-countssq-777-proponents-okccouncil

Cushing Citizen

An in-depth look, view on state questions

2016
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State Question 776 deals

with death penalty
This is very simple.
What happens in Oklahoma
when a person receives the
death penalty and the method
of execution is deemed by
federal authorities to be invalPK& 0Z [OL WLYZVU V [OL OVVR
for the death penalty?
SQ 776, if passed, would
change the Oklahoma Constitution to require the death
penalty to remain imposed
until a valid method of execution is determined.
The last portion reads,
Shall not be deemed to be
VY JVUZ[P[\[L [OL PUPJ[PVU VM
cruel or unusual punishment
under Oklahomas Constitution Were still giving the
criminal far more consideration
than did he to his victim.
Im voting for SQ 776.
State Question 777 is
called Right to Farm.
From the average voters
point of view, this is a measure thats senseless. What
we average voters dont see
is the barrage of criticism
farmers, ranchers, fruit and
vegetable growers and others in the agriculture industry
put up with from out-of-state
environmental activists aka
Greenies.
For centuries, the agriculture
industry has been growing
healthy feed for livestock,
growing our fruits and vegetables and growing our beef,
pork and poultry. Theyve always worked hard to provide
us the food we need. Theyve
worked long hours and have
been blessed by good harvests and impacted by storm,
drought, disease and other
natural occurrences.
They do this because its
their way of life. Farmers
farm. Ranchers raise livestock.
They hope to make a living
and hopefully a very nice living but they do what they do
because thats who they are.
A part of their culture is the
hope and plan to leave the
farm to family members of the
next generation.
Then come people who
complain that pesticides are
causing certain insects to
become near extinction or
may be polluting water supplies. That other technologies
or other practices could be
making food produced not as
healthy or measures they take
may be damaging the environment.
Simply put, State Question 777 must be passed
because too many politicians cannot help but be
PU\LUJLK I` [OL .YLLUPLZ
If politicians had the
courage to tell the
.YLLUPLZ [V NV UK ZVTLthing constructive to do
with their time, this measure would not be neces-

Sep
21

On Nov. 8, voters will vote

on each of seven state questions. Some have been highWYVSL PZZ\LZ ^OPSL ZVTL OH]L
not been.
I have read and studied
them and are providing in this
column my explanation and
point of view on the following
state questions:

sary. Fact is,

our government has listened to them
too much for
too long and
now, a law
is necessary
to control
governments
propensity to
Publisher
add regulations and prohibitions that
by that amount? Absolutely
impact those
not!
in agriculture from being able
You have real-time evidence
to do their job.
that if we pass a penny sales
The opponents believe
tax for education theres a
the passage of SQ 777 will
really good chance our Leg\S[PTH[LS` SLNHSPaL JVJRNO[islature will choose to redirect
ing and cause it to be more
current money invested on
KPJ\S[ [V JVU[YVS W\WW`TPSS
education to other functions
operations. Of course, there
of state government.
is nothing to this at all. OpLow priced oil has had an
ponents are concerned that
incredible impact on people of
limiting governments control
Oklahoma.
We have found $4
and regulations of agriculture
per gallon gasoline to be far
downward spiral caused by
less expensive than $2 gas. It
irresponsible agriculture prachas taken a toll on our state
tices. Give Oklahomas farmers and ranchers a little credit. budget as it should and as
we knew it would.
Were convinced of several
We know oil prices will rise.
things. There will always be
We know oil prices will rise
puppy mills maybe illegal
and fall. They always have
ones, but there will always be
and always will. When the
puppy mills. There will always
IL JVJRNO[PUN [OV\NO PSSLNHS price of oil returns to $75 per
barrel, do you think for a min(UK LVY[Z [V W\[ \UULJLZsary and unreasonable regula- ute our state government will
decide the new penny sales
tions on farming and ranching
and unnecessary and distract- tax is no longer necessary?
If you pass this penny sales
ing paperwork on folks whose
tax for education, it will be
lives are about raising cattle,
here
forever and there is no
growing product and providing
assurance Oklahomas funding
us food serve to provide
an atmosphere where big cor- to education will increase. The
legislature has control of that.
porate farming and ranching
To increase education funding,
will replace us hardworking
Oklahomans whom we should increase our state legislatures
passion toward public educachoose, over corporates, to
tion. Only then will the probprovide our food. Who would
lem be solved.
YOU trust more?
Our legislature
There will always be a way
for a courageous legislature to would rather you
pay for their lack
control the breeding practices
of planning, lack of
of our pets. There will always
management and
be a way for a bold legisla[\YL [V SPTP[ PSSLNHS JVJRNO[PUN lack of passion for
public education.
We prefer Oklahomas farmIm voting no on
ers and ranchers who have
SQ 779.
a deep love for the land and
take incredible pride in providState Questions
ing your food over ANY and
780 and 781 go
we do mean ANY big corpoExperience
together.
rate operations.
Chickasaw culture
SQ 780, is called,
I will vote yes on SQ 777.
in the language of
at our annual
SQ 781, Oklahoma
SQ 779 Penny sales tax
harvest celebration!
Smart Justice Refor education
form Act.
Get real.
Why it is not
Once upon a time, our legcalled that in the
islature gave us a measure to
language
of 780,
vote on. They were frothing at
we have no idea.
the bits to get lottery money
It may because
and proposed that if we pass
when one reads it,
lottery on Oklahoma, it would
it doesnt look very
solve education funding probsmart at all.
lems once and for all.
This question,
Really?
brought to you via
What happened? We
Initiative Petition,
WHZZLK [OL SV[[LY` ( ZPNUPtransforms certain
cant amount of new money
crimes from felony
JHTL PU[V [OL Z[H[L JVLYZ
earmarked for education. Did
See REID page 5
the education funding increase

My Own Opinion
David
Reid

Meet

Ciera
Reneau

A TASTE
FA L L F E S T I VA L S AT. , O C T. 1 5

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Muskogee Phoenix

e
c-

THE PEOPLE SPEAK

Reasons to vote No
on State Question 777

2. SQ 777 destroys our

rights to protect Oklahomans food producThere are many reation. Why would Oklasons to vote no on The
homa voters remove our
Right to Farm (Harm)
rights at the state level
Bill State Question
to determine how we
777. Here are a few of
raise crops and animals,
them:
while enabling foreign
1. SQ 777 devastates
corporations ability to
family farms. It preuse and abuse our farmtends to support family
land and water?
farmers, but gives un3. SQ 777 shackles
checked power to indus- our state. Local commutrialized factory farms
nities will be powerless
and foreign corporations to protect their land
and actually endangers and natural resources
Oklahoma farmers and
from harm and abuse.
their land.
They dont care if were

harmed by their waste

and pollution.
4. SQ 777 threatens
animal welfare. Oklahomans will be prohibited
from enacting welfare
standards for farm animals. We cannot predict
the methods the Chinese factory farm corporations will use.
5. SQ 777 protects
puppy mills and illegal
cockghting operations.
Nasty puppy mill and
cockghting breeders
consider themselves
farmers so, if 777 passes, they will demand

in court their so-called

right to farm. Why
would we Oklahomans
go back in time and allow these inhumane operations to begin again?
6. SQ 777 makes us
dependent of federal intervention to protect our
drinking water.
7. SQ 777 leads to
costly litigation. The
only winners are factory
farms, foreign corporations and trial lawyers.
Please vote NO on SQ
777.
MARJORIE HASS
Hartshorne

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Tahlequah Daily Press

READERS
FORUM
Letters submitted to the Daily Press
Sep
21
2016
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Theres no compelling state interest

Editor, Daily Press:
A Washington man complains that Monsanto
Co.s glyphosate herbicides caused his cancer, joining similar lawsuits across the country. William
White of Clallam County, Wash., says he developed
non-Hodgkins lymphoma from using the U.S.
companys Roundup brand of glyphosate.
The complaint, like others led in multiple federal jurisdictions, argues that Monsanto misled
consumers by claiming glyphosate is biodegradable
and practically non-toxic, despite studies linking
the chemical to cancer. But it wont matter to Oklahomans if State Question 777 passes on Nov. 8. The
constitutional amendment removes our elected
legislators from regulating agriculture unless there
is a compelling state interest. Thats a high hurdle
usually used to protect freedom of speech and the
right to own rearms.
Fast forward: The date is Nov. 9, 2017. Oklahoma somehow has passed the corporate agriculture-spawned right to farm (SQ 777). Monsantos
glyphosate (Roundup) is proved to cause cancer.
German-owned Bayer now is owner of Monsanto.
The Oklahoma Legislature attempts to regulate
glyphosate. Corporate farm groups, including foreign-owned Bayer, oppose any regulation.
Dont worry, be happy! theyre told. Theres no
compelling state interest for regulation. Please,
someone, I need an aspirin.
Ed Brocksmith
Tahlequah

Scotfest: The Welsh are the true Celts

Editor, Daily Press:
Reading your [press release, published Sept.
16] about Scotfest, I was surprised that Wales was
not mentioned. The Welsh are true Celts (unlike the
English) with their own culture and language. I am a
proud Taffy and would like to see Wales given the
same recognition as Scotland and Ireland.
If you want to try Celtic beer or whiskey, you
could try Brains beer, brewed in Cardiff, or Welsh
Penderyn whiskey distilled in the Cynon Valley
(where i hail from).
Please remember in the future that by ignoring
Wales, you do us a disservice for our contribution to
Celtic culture.
Richard Dennis-Dause
Tahlequah
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Weatherford Daily News

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21
2016
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The Right To Farm

T
Staff Reports

he issue of State Question 777,

Oklahomas Right to Farm is
dividing the state.
Supporters of the bill
claim it will help protect the protability
of agriculture in the state, while those
opposed say it could potentially cause
problems to waterways and/or prevent
people from passing legislation against
things like puppy mills. Critics also say
the proposed law sets the highest possible
burden on anyone attempting to impose
future regulations on farming, namely
that they have a specic compelling state
interest.
While the bill is supported by groups such
as the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association,
Oklahoma Farm Bureau, the Oklahoma
Pork Council, Oklahoma Cotton Council
and Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers
Association, it is opposed by the Oklahoma
Municipal League, the Humane Society,
the Cherokee Nation, the Oklahoma Food
Cooperative and Oklahomans for Food,
Farm and Family.
I think the biggest concern is the
acreage that surrounds city limits,
Oklahoma Municipal League President
and Weatherford Mayor Mike Brown
said. Weve got some area, potentially
where somebody could put in a feed lot,
something right next to a residential area
if this passes. I think thats a concern for
our water supply.

According to the Humane Societys

website, the organization opposes the bill
because it would largely prevent voters
and legislators from making reforms that
would benet food safety, animal welfare
and the quality of our air and water. The
organization also states large agribusiness
corporations would benet most from the
bill.
Oklahoma State Rep. Harold Wright
voted in favor of the measure to place
the proposed constitutional amendment
on the ballot. He said it will protect the
farming and ranching industries and allow
the industries to continue their current
production practices.
It doesnt mean they dont have to abide
by the law, but it holds everyone to a higher
standard, Wright said. It doesnt change
the law; farmers will still have the same
standards out there.
Wright said the Humane Society has
pushed for laws in other states which
have negatively affected the agriculture
industry.
California passed some of these laws,
and its changed the way farmers produced
animals, and its made it more difcult to
farm and ranch in that state. As a result,
prices are higher.
This evening and Thursday evening,
the Weatherford Public Library is
hosting presentations for and against
Please see Farm,
Page 3

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Weatherford Daily News

Farm

Continued from Page One

Oklahoma State Question 777, The Right to Farm.

Tonight, the library will host Oklahoma State Rep. Jason Dunnington who will
attempt to persuade voters against supporting the measure.
Im opposed to State Question 777 because I think it harms the interests of Oklahoma
family farmers and ranchers, Dunnington said. It gives large corporate farms license
to do harm to the environment, sources of water and the land and prevents the elected
state legislature from ever taking action to prevent it.

Michael Kelsey, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association,

will speak at the library Thursday in support of SQ 777.
The State Question would not give farmers and ranchers a blank check but ensures
reasonable regulations, Kelsey wrote in an ofcial statement from the OCA.
Kelsey also wrote, Clean water and safe food clearly are compelling state interests
to most Oklahomans.

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The Dewey County Record

Do you know State Question 777

by Destinee Weeks
State Question 777 is one of the seven state questions that will be on your November 8 ballot. Phrases such as, These constitutional rights receive extra protection
XQGHUWKLVPHDVXUHDQGXQOHVVWKHODZLVMXVWLHGE\DFRPSHOOLQJVWDWHLQWHUHVW
have voters scratching their heads.
'LVWULFW6WDWH5HSUHVHQWDWLYH0LNH6DQGHUVVD\VWKLVVWDWHTXHVWLRQLVDQR
brainer. SQ777 will protect Oklahomas family farms and ranches from out-ofstate animal-rights groups that have targeted agriculture nationwide, he said.
Although the agenda appears clear and straight-forward, many Oklahoma voters
believe big farming corporations are the masterminds behind the bill. Waynoka
farmer and rancher, Kim Barker, claims the bill originated from legislation written

Kim Barker

6DQGHUV VD\V WKH IHDU RI OHIWZLQJ DQLPDO ULJKWV JURXSV OLNH +686 LV YHU\
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farms in Missouri be restructured to allow more living space for the animals;
thus, resulting in higher egg prices. SQ 777 will ensure Oklahoma families are
able to afford the food they need, he said.
While there was an increase in egg price in Missouri in 2015, according to
expatistan.com the current cost of a dozen eggs in St. Louis, MO is $3.85, while
the current cost of a dozen eggs in Oklahoma City is $3.10.
Farm Bureau, American Farmers and Ranchers, and the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association, are three driving forces behind the state question. Sanders
LQ0LVVRXULDQG1RUWK'DNRWDZDVZULWWHQ
said the accusations made against the bill have no validity. He said that Reprefor corporations by corporations, he said.
Cont. on Pg. 6
,Q1RUWK'DNRWDSDVVHGDVLPLODUULJKWWR
farm amendment, Measure 3. Sponsored in large
E\WKH1RUWK'DNRWD)DUP%XUHDXWKHPHDVXUH
called for an amendment that would block any
law that infringes on the rights of farmers and
ranchers. Measure 3 passed with 66.89%, according to balletopia.com.
)ROORZLQJ 1RUWK 'DNRWD 0LVVRXUL SURSRVHG
the Right-to-Farm Amendment 1 in 2014. The
results were tight, resulting in a recount. On Aug.
5, 2014, Amendment 1 did pass in Missouri with

the small margin of 50.12% in favor, according to balletopia.com.

%DUNHURSHUDWHVDQHDUO\RUJDQLFIDUPQRWXWLOL]LQJ*02VRUDQWLELRWLFV2QHRI
his fears if the bill passes is that consumers will give up their right to know what is
in our food. In addition, he states Oklahoma could lose its right to govern its own
air and water.
Should 777 pass Barker believes it will stem from irrational fear of animal rights
JURXSVVXFKDVWKH+XPDQH6RFLHW\RIWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV+6867KLVLVQW&DOLfornia, Im not worried, he said.

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The Dewey County Record

Do you know State Question 777

Cont.

s and

s
0

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ited
. Fill

sentative Scott Biggs wrote the bill, and President of Farm

Bureau, Tom Buchanan, gave his two cents, as well.
The language concerning compelling state interest
should not breed fear according to Sanders. Compelling
VWDWHLQWHUHVWKDVEHHQGHQHGDVQHFHVVDU\WRSURWHFWKHDOWK
safety and welfare of the state, he said, We a passed a bill
IXUWKHUGHQLQJZDWHUDVDGHQHGFRPSHOOLQJVWDWHLQWHUest. Sanders said the safety and wellbeing of Oklahomans

ship driven, he said, The language of the amendment applies

to Oklahoma citizens and lawful residents-Title 18 prohibits
foreign ownership of farm and ranching operations.
SQ 777 reads: This measure adds Section 38 to Article II
of the Oklahoma Constitution. The new section creates state
constitutional rights. It creates the following guaranteed rights
WRHQJDJHLQIDUPLQJDQGUDQFKLQJ7KHULJKWWRPDNHXVHRI
DJULFXOWXUDOWHFKQRORJ\7KHULJKWWRPDNHXVHRIOLYHVWRFN

is their number one objective. Every

SURFHGXUHV DQG  7KH ULJKW WR PDNH
year we vote on bills at the capitol with
use of ranching practices. These conCattleman, Farm Bu- stitutional rights receive extra protecan emergency clause that requires 68
votes because it is necessary for the
reau, and American tion under this measure that not all
health safety and welfare of the public
constitutional rights receive. This exFarmers and Ranch- tra protection is a limit on lawmakers
that the bill takes effect immediately,
said Sanders.
ers will continue to be ability to interfere with the exercise of
Despite Sanders adamant assurance,
these rights. Under this extra proteclegislature looks tion, no law can interfere with these
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opened for big corporations. As of today
to for advice, since they ULJKWVXQOHVVWKHODZLVMXVWLHGE\D
only 2% of Oklahoma agriculture is ran
state interesta clearly
are membership driven. compelling
by corporate farms. Barker says if the SQ
LGHQWLHG VWDWH LQWHUHVW RI WKH KLJKpasses, it not only leaves Oklahomans
est order. Additionally, the law must
vulnerable, it gives a blank check to
be necessary to serve that compelling
all corporate agriculture if that percent rises.
VWDWH LQWHUHVW 7KH PHDVXUHDQG WKH SURWHFWLRQV LGHQWLHG
Sanders assures that even if corporatie farms grow, they
abovedo not apply to and do not impact state laws related
will not match the credibility that member-driven agriculWR7UHVSDVV(PLQHQWGRPDLQ(DVHPHQWV5LJKWRIZD\
ture groups have at the capitol. Cattleman, Farm Bureau,
RURWKHUSURSHUW\ULJKWVDQG$Q\VWDWHVWDWXWHVDQGSROLWLFDO
and American Farmers and Ranchers will continue to be
subdivision ordinances enacted before December 31, 2014,
who legislature looks to for advice, since they are memberaccording to the Secretary of State government website.

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The Ellis County Capital

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Comments recently
from a chief proponent of
State Question 777 before
the Norman Chamber of
Commerce shows even
supporters of the proposal
UHFRJQL]HLWLVDZHG
As reported by the
Norman Transcript, when
it comes to State Question
V EDOORW ODQJXDJH
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state interest, Farm Bureau
President Tom Buchanan
told the Norman Chamber
of Commerce yesterday
WKDW,ZLVKWKDWODQJXDJH
werent in there.
Drew Edmondson,
chair of the Oklahoma
Stewardship Council
and former state attorney
JHQHUDOVDLGWKHDGPLVVLRQ

yesterday by a chief
advocate of the proposal
proves SQ 777 is faulty.
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that a measure like this
has no place in our state
FRQVWLWXWLRQ
The comment from
Buchanan came after a
1RUPDQDWWRUQH\DWWHQGLQJ
his speech opined that
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interest in a constitutional
amendment would make
it nearly impossible for
lawmakers to pass laws to
protect local water supplies
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Monday, September 26
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Tuesday, September 27
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(4th-12th), Milk.
Tuesday, September 27
-- Chicken Fajitas, Refried
Beans, Fresh Pears, Salad
Bar I (4th-12th), Milk.
Wednesday, September

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The Gage Record

Farm Bureau President Admits SQ 777 Is Flawed

Comments recently
from a chief proponent of
State Question 777 before
the Norman Chamber of
Commerce shows even
supporters of the proposal
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As reported by the
Norman Transcript, when
it comes to State Question
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state interest, Farm Bureau
President Tom Buchanan
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of Commerce yesterday
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yesterday by a chief
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that a measure like this
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Talihina American

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Tulsa Beacon

STATE QUESTIONS
State Question 776
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State Question 777
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State Question 779
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State Question 780
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Recruitment of California farmers

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Woods County Enterprise

bought his dog, Lilly to school to visit us for letter D show and tell.

Letter To Editor
Letters To The Editor are not necessarily the views of the editor
Im writing this letter in response
to the advertisements that have been
run by the Kirkpatrick Foundation encouraging a no vote on State
Question 777, Oklahomas Right to
Farm.
SQ777, Oklahomas Right to Farm,
is a state constitutional amendment
to protect Oklahomas family farmers and ranchers, including small,
local and organic farms, from unreasonable government interference
and attacks by out-of-state special
interests. Right to Farm will not
overturn agriculture regulations or
existing laws. The State Question
will not give farmers and ranchers a
blank check but ensures reasonable
regulations.
Some dont see the reason for this
amendment saying you already
have the right to farm and what has
happened here in our state to affect
your right to farm?
My answer is yes, I do have the
right to farm. As a fourth generation
agriculturalist, farming and ranching is our livelihood and feeding
and clothing the world is our pro-

fession. My family and I take pride

in our livelihood, our profession,
our animals and our land. Thankfully, nothing major has taken place
in the state of Oklahoma that would
greatly hinder our profession, but
there are several instances in other
states that have. With each election and each generation that passes,
folks are getting further and further
removed from the farm. SQ 777 is
a preventative measure to protect the
agriculture industry and the folks
that choose that as a career path.
SQ 777 will ensure that farmers and
ranchers, like me, my children and
grand-children, have access to utilize the latest tools, techniques and
technologies; allowing farm families
like mine the ability to continue to
grow abundant and nutritious food,
while using less land and fewer natural resources.
Did you know that 98% of Oklahoma farms are family owned and
operated? The origin of SQ777 was
from the lobbying efforts of grassroots Oklahoma agriculture groups
and legislators who appreciate and

value agriculture. This state question was authored by Representative

Scott Biggs, a cattleman and multigeneration agriculturalist himself.
Right to Farm will protect the
consumer too. When unreasonable
regulations are put on farmers and
ranchers, the cost of production will
go up and that increase will be seen
by consumers as well.
Finally, I encourage you to do
you a little research. Look up the
goals, missions and objectives of
the groups opposed to SQ777. One
of those groups is the Humans Society of the United States (HSUS).
Go to their website and check out
the 3Rs--- Reduce the consumption
RI PHDW UHQH \RXU
diet, remove animal
protein from the diet.
HSUS is a radical
animal rights group
that is trying to put
animal
agriculture
out of business and
that is my livelihood!
I, along with my husband and children,

DUH SURXG WR EH WKH IRXUWK DQG IWK

generation of my family farming
and ranching in the Waynoka area. I
hope that if my children, nieces and
nephews desire it can be their livelihood as well.
Join me in voting YES on SQ777,
Oklahomas Right to Farm, on Nov.
8.
Sincerely,
Chancey (Redgate) Hanson,
Waynoka, OK

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