Budget showdown
Gov. Brad Henry has until Wednesday to decide whether to veto all or some of the $6.87 billion budget that sailed last week through the Legislature.
Legislative leaders say the budget’s overwhelming approval by lawmakers indicates bipartisan support. The measure passed 48 to 0 in the evenly divided Senate and 84 to 16 in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
Henry, though, has said in statements he is disappointed his office was not included in the talks.
House Democrats, outnumbered 44 to 57, also are disappointed they were not included in budget talks. The 16 lawmakers who voted against the budget were House Democrats.
About nine lawmakers were involved in preparing the budget.
While Henry was vacationing with his family last week, his top budget adviser, state Treasurer Scott Meacham, who serves on the governor’s Cabinet as secretary of revenue and finance, has been the most vocal critic of the bill.
Friday afternoon, Republicans stepped up efforts criticizing the Democratic governor’s office.
Two House Republicans blamed Meacham for making poor revenue estimates and for not understanding the budget proposal.
State Republican Party Chairman Tom Daxon criticized Henry for being gone last week while lawmakers approved the budget. He wanted details of where the Henry family went on spring break. The governor’s office declined to say where the governor’s family was to prevent them from being disturbed.
It’s unclear what Henry could have done differently had he been at the Capitol. The budget agreement was prepared before Henry left; the governor’s office was not given anything on paper about the proposal until just before legislative leaders announced the deal last Monday. The governor’s office found out a week earlier from a lobbyist, not from legislative leaders, that budget talks were under way on the upcoming fiscal year budget.
Although out of state, Henry, according to a spokesman, was in regular contact about the budget deal after it was released. He talked to House Democratic leaders last week about their concerns. It’s likely he’s been talking with them about whether they would back up any veto.
It takes 68 votes in the 101-member House to override a veto, meaning at least 34 of the 44 House Democrats must vote to sustain the governor’s action.
House Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah, has said he doubts Democrats who voted for the budget would switch their position and vote against overriding the veto.
What do you think the governor should do? Should he approve the proposed deal or veto some or all of it?
Who should prepare the budget? It’s the duty of the House and Senate to craft a budget. Should that task be done by several legislative leaders or should more legislators be involved? And should the governor’s office be included in budget talks?
Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
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