By Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK – Henry to chair opposition to ballot question
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A longtime supporter of common education, Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry says he's agreed to be the statewide chairman of a group opposed to a state question that would dramatically increase funding for public schools.
Henry said Tuesday the decision was a "painful" one, and that he's sympathetic with the supporters' goals to boost education funding. But the two-term Democratic governor says passage of the proposal would impose fiscal havoc on state government.
State Question 744 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require the state within three years to meet the regional average of per-student spending in surrounding states.
Supporters of the proposal say they are disappointed in Henry's decision.
A fiscal analysis of the proposal projects an increased cost to the state of $1.7 billion over three years.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.