COMMENTARY: Sine Die, Oklahoma

Like it does every year, the Oklahoma Legislature will adjourn sine die (Latin for “we’re outta’ here) this Friday at 5 p.m.

And by 5:03 that evening, all 148 members of the House and Senate will be headed back to their respective home towns so they can talk about just how much good or bad they did for the state.

This, of course, works as a preamble to the next legislative cycle and the 2008 elections.

Get ready.

Because while you might actually hear some facts about what happened this year at 23rd and Lincoln, you’ll also hear lots of crapola.

Seriously, lawmakers can’t help it; shoveling BS is a requirement to hold public office.

Anyway, first you’ll probably hear how the economy is stable. And yes, that’s truthful. State revenue is actually up and our constitutional reserve fund — also known as the ‘rainy day’ fund — will be filled to the maximum.

Currently the fund has about $495 million; with another $75.9 million expected to be deposited in 2007.

So far, so good.

But don’t let the boys and girls at the capitol tell you how oil and gas (especially natural gas) is growing our economy by leaps and bounds.

The fact is oil and gas production taxes generated about $505 million for the first 10 months of 2007. That may sound impressive, but in reality it’s also about $87.8 million below the prior year’s revenue.

For too long, Oklahomans have been mislead by oil industry apologists who want us to believe that their industry is our state’s only hope of survival.

Wrong.

The facts paint a different picture.

The two biggest components of our state’s economy are income taxes and sales taxes.

Income taxes have generated about $2.32 billion for state government, with personal income tax accounting for a whopping $1.95 billion.

Sales tax added $1.27 billion to the public checkbook.

So what does this mean?

It means that you, my friend, are the chief component of the Oklahoma economy — the humble Oklahoma taxpayer.

Everytime you go to the store, buy a pair of shoes or grab a burger, you’re the one contributing; doing the heaving lifting.

You generate almost four times more revenue than the oil industry.

You generate almost three times more than the agricultural industry.

You pay the bills.

And while the money for state government comes from each and every Oklahoman, only about half of you (and we’re talking about those who are eligible) bother to tell our state’s elected representatives just how, exactly, you want those funds spent.

In reality it’s not the legislature’s fault; they’re going to behave like a kid with a credit card if you don’t give them some direction. And believe me, the less you pay attention, the worse they behave.

So congratulations on doing your part for keeping the ship of state sailing.

But please, if you’re going to give them several billion dollars to play with, then please get involved in where they spend your money.

And to those of you who think for yourselves, take what you hear from most state lawmakers with a grain of salt, and actually pay attention and vote, please move ahead to the front of the boat.

The rest of you do not pass Go.

You’ll need to brush up on our civics and American democracy classes.

Otherwise the government reflects only half of us. And everyone ought to get the chance to play.