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- NATION, Page 31American NotesREFERENDUMSTaxing Debate
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- Even as the Supreme Court was approving California's term
- limits last week, voters in Oklahoma drastically curbed the
- powers of their elected representatives. By a vote of 56% to
- 44%, Oklahomans backed a ballot initiative that would require
- a three-fourths legislative majority for all laws that raise
- revenue, excluding property taxes. Bills falling short of that
- majority would have to be approved by popular vote at the next
- regular election, virtually ensuring that future tax hikes will
- be few and far between.
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- "It is a shot that will be heard around the U.S.," says
- Dan Brown, head of the state's anti-tax forces. "We have set
- standards for other states to aspire to." But critics,
- particularly in the business community, say the measure will
- cripple economic development. The most likely result will be a
- rise in property taxes.
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