Ponzi Scheme? Or Just Plain Theft?

 

 THE OKLAHOMA STATE BUDGET

IS IT A PONZI SCHEME OR JUST PLAIN THEFT

THE WATCHMAN

We know that most of the residents of Oklahoma are aware that the state of Oklahoma has had its second budget failure in a row declared today. Did we really or did we just not make enough income for what the state wanted to spend it on? Have you ever wondered why they kept the budget making process so secret. Some information dropped into our hands today that will surely have every single politician at the state capital screaming their heads off. It will also show that the tax increase proposal was nothing more than a ploy to be able to keep their campaign donors happy. It will also show that a vast majority of our legislators, elected officials and appointed officials are in it to make themselves rich and not for the welfare of the citizens or the state of Oklahoma.

The first article of interest we found was this It's the revenue, stupid! (Guest post: Ken Miller). Our state budget is required by law to be balanced each year. For the last two years now drastic cuts have been made to every department in the state because of the shortage of revenue. What we didn't see, with the exception of the education system, was a cut in personnel or a hiring freeze. In fact we saw absolutely no attempt to shrink the size of government in this time period. What kind of fools do you people in the legislature think we citizens are?

The next article of interest we found was this Section X-23 :: Oklahoma Constitution :: Oklahoma Law :: US Law :: Justia. We would urge you to open this link and read it. It is the actual law about the state mandate on having a balanced budget. Maybe every one of our legislators should look it up and read it also.

One of the big ticket items on the agenda this year is a pay raise for the teachers. We can understand that. What we can't understand is this Why Are School Districts Sitting on So Much Cash?OCPA - Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs. With the funds in their savings accounts surely they could have kept a teacher or two on last year. If not surely they could have afforded a pay increase for the teachers. The greed is idiotic. That's tax-payers money they are hording.

The next article of interest we found was this http://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-faces-dollar878-million-shortfall-for-upcoming-year/8960260. This article states that the various state agencies face a cut of $34.6 million dollars this year. But is that really true, or is that the cut from the budget the agencies submitted to the Governor for consideration? We believe that is a cut from what the agencies have asked for.

There is a reason we believe this and it comes from someone familiar with preparing the budget. The person who past this information to us has asked to remain unknown. The following is the information we received.

"I'm going to share a dirty little secret with you that most politicians won't. One thing for sure, way too many politicians think they can spend your money better than you can. The alleged budget shortfall the politicians (Fallin) are complaining about and using to argue for raising taxes is a classic bait and switch. The Oklahoma budget is set by using a figure from last year spending. For example if we spent $6.5 billion last year they guess we can spend a little more this year. Here's the dirty little secret they don't want you to know. The budget shortfall number is a fake. Let's say $6.5 billion was collected last year. You would think they would spend $6.5 billion. Wrong! They will also spend millions of dollars on what they refer to as one time money.

Basically they take money from fees, agency transfers and other sources to add to the budget. That figure, say $7 billion becomes the new baseline for the next years guesstimate. Added to the $7 billion dollars will also be projected revenue increases. This too is a guesstimate. So now they have a budget for next year is set at $7.5 billion dollars. So as the year progresses maybe only $6.5 billion of taxes came in. Guess what? The politicians call that a $1 Billion dollar shortfall even though they had the same amount to spend as last year. This has gone on year after year at the hands of both the Democrats and the Republicans, and as of yet no one in the Governor's office has taken up the task of prudent state budgeting.

May we remind everyone that the State Capitol isn't there to redistribute as much of our money as they can get their hands on. Fallin's Tax Increases must be stopped dead in their tracks.

The next article of interest we found was this http://reclaimoklahomaparentempowerment.blogspot.com/2017/02/taxes-taxes-everywhere-governor-mary.html?m=1. We urge you to open this article and read it for yourself. In it you'll see that the state is actually funding education four different ways. That is outlandish. Legislators need to get their ducks in a row.

The next article of interest we found was this Altus Times | Gov. Mary Fallin is picking winners and losers with proposed sales taxes. This is a good story that we urge you to open the link and read. The burden of the proposed tax increases will fall on the working class. This is pure laziness of the politicians. It also shows that keeping a known individual who feels he's above the law in a position to handle the states money is an extremely bad idea.

In closing we can say that we are onto you now even more than before. It's well known that for the last two years the State Treasurer has consistently reported lower than expected collections from taxes, yet you there who occupy the offices and chambers of both houses keep spending like there is no tomorrow. This is done and over with. Our thanks to those standing against these tax increases. Our torment will go to those who vote for them. Yes we will make sure your districts are fully aware of how you voted.