Court Opinion

ID: 9627358
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 08:42:37.577648+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:06:45.055498
License: Public Domain

*795ON PETITIONS FOR REHEARING
ALMA WILSON, J.,
with whom LAVENDER, OPALA, and WATT, JJ., join, dissenting to denial of rehearing:
¶ 1 Oklahoma’s constitutional hallmark, our balanced-budget provisions, Okla. Const., art. 10, § 23, prohibits officials in all three branches of our state government from creating multi-year debts or authorizing deficit spending. Even when it is for the laudable purpose of highway improvement to encourage economic growth which I support, the State may not become indebted without voter approval. Okla. Const., art. 10, § 25.
¶ 2 The Class of 2000 should not inherit the cost of today’s highway improvements unless that is the will of their parents and grandparents expressed at the ballot box. And, this Court should not join the Legislature in authorizing our highest Executive officials to engage in deficit spending without voter approval. Accordingly, rehearing should be granted so this Court may preserve the people’s constitutional right to approve the proposed highway bond indebtedness herein.