Just recently I learned that SQ832 would be on the ballot during the Primary Election, June 16th, 2026.
This is a question that seeks to raise the MINIMUM WAGE as determined by the Federal Labor Commission-determined cost of living for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, not voters, through the Oklahoma Legislature. Currently, our state follows the Federal Minimum Wage, but this value may be increased beyond the minimum via state law, as has happened in other states – particularly those that make up the east and west coasts.
If the SQ is voted into law, the minimum wage in Oklahoma would immediately raise from $7.25 to $10.50/hour.
It is important to remember that while $7.25 is the current federally-mandated minimum, ANY employer in Oklahoma, can offer wages above that to their employees as it makes sense to their budgets, at any time.
Because an increases in minimum wage can cause large ripples in a state’s economy and simply ruin small businesses, I decided to put a bit of time into researching the people who signed their name to SQ832’s petition.
According to the filing, Kelsey Cobbs, of El Reno, and Dustin Phelan, of Salina, created the petition.
Kelsey Cobbs is the head pastor of The Federated Church of Weatherford.
Please note that Kelsey has a Master of Divinity with a concentration on Spirituality and Social Activism from Vanderbilt Divinity School.
I have two questions about Kelsey:
- Does your church accept donations? Why is it then, that you can’t help the poor in your community? Why is it that ALL OF OKLAHOMA has to carry the burden you want carried yourself?
- What did God say about the poor? “’When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.’” Leviticus 23:22. “If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” Deuteronomy 7-11. It doesn’t say anything at all about the government forcing wages, or that the government should make sure there are none in poverty. Jesus told us that the second greatest commandment was to, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” Matthew 29:39. If we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, we can’t possibly be commanded to steal from others to give to others. We must INDIVIDUALLY, PERSONALLY donate money to churches and to organizations who help the poor. “I think the minimum wage needs to go up because the cost of everything has gone up, and it is time that wages people earn can actually help them make a living,” Cobbs told the Oklahoman.
Our next signer is Dustin Phelam. Dustin is an electrician and member of IBEW Local 584 who looks as though he might be making a bit more than minimum wage already.
He is also a Democrat who wants to begin the RURAL REVOLUTION today. I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I do know that Revolution is a Communist construct, so there’s that.
There is also a group involved, called, “Raise The Wage Oklahoma“, piloted by our old Common Core nemesis, Amber England. England worked VERY hard to make Common Core the law of Oklahoma and we fought her every step of the way until it was finally repealed from law in 2014.
Oklahoma Appleseed – a division of the George Soros-backed Appleseed Network – is also involved in the effort to increase the minimum wage.
Both Raise the Wage and Oklahoma Appleseed ask for donations. Let’s think…if you are REALLY invested in making sure people in poverty have their needs met, shouldn’t you be using the DONATIONS YOU’RE COLLECTING and GIVING THEM TO THOSE IN NEED?
Absolutely. This is how you know – IMMEDIATELY – that SQ832 is yet another scam to ruin the middle class, by attacking their businesses.
Do not be fooled. Share this information and VOTE NO ON STATE QUESTION 832 June 16th.
