Opinion

In Re the Oklahoma Capitol Improvement Authority

  • 74 O.B.A.J. 1722
  • 80 P.3d 109
  • 2003 OK 59
  • 2003 Okla. LEXIS 64
  • 2003 WL 21295711
Court
Supreme Court of Oklahoma
Filed
Jun 3, 2003
Status
Published
Author
Ala
On the bench
Boudreau, Ala, Summers, Watt, Hodges, Lavender, Hargrave, Kauger, Winchester
Cited by
11 cases
Authority
More cited than 11.0%

stating that this definition of the word “purpose” comports with the word’s “natural and ordinary meaning”

How later courts described this case

  • stating that this definition of the word “purpose” comports with the word’s “natural and ordinary meaning”
  • referring to the Oklahoma State Regents as a state agency

Written by the judges who cited it.

The opinion

OP ALA, V.C.J.,

concurring in result.

¶ 1 Although I am persuaded that today’s pronouncement represents a correct resolution of an issue in this controversy, I cannot give it my unqualified assent. The bonded indebtedness to be approved today is tainted by a pervasive and clearly incurable flaw. It cannot facially qualify as a self-liquidating loan transaction. Aside from its deficient descriptive designation, the obligation’s repayment source is not shown to come from a project-generated revenue stream but rather appears to draw from the uncertainty (or risk of legislative appropriation). The State may not borrow for any purpose without a vote of her people. Art. 10 § 25, Okl. Const. Attaching to the loan a “moral obligation” label will not erase the reality of placing the State in the status of a borrower. It is the act of receiving borrowed money sans the voters’ assent which offends the Constitution’s prohibition that lies at the base of this controversy.

*121 ¶ 2 Without fully joining the court’s pronouncement, I concur solely in today’s refusal to approve the bonds sought to be issued. For a full explanation of my analyses see Application of Oklahoma Capitol Imp. Auth., 1998 OK 25 , 958 P.2d 759, 779 (Opala, J., dissenting).

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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