Oklahoma Voters Approve Tax-Limitation Initiative

By Millicent Lawton

The Oklahoma anti-tax activists who failed last October to force repeal of a massive school-reform and tax-increase law celebrated victory last week, after state voters passed a ballot initiative limiting the legislature's ability to raise taxes.

Although the constitutional amendment took effect immediately, it is not expected to endanger funding for House Bill 1017, the $2-billion reform measure enacted in 1990 and upheld in a popular referendum last fall. (See Education Week, Oct. 23, 1991.)

But the tax-limit measure, known as State Question 640, could affect state programs--including education--that need new revenue in...