Will history repeat itself?
In 2001, then-Gov. Frank Keating vetoed major portions of a general appropriations bill because the governor’s office and many lawmakers were excluded from budget talks.
Then, legislative leaders in the House and Senate, controlled by Democrats, predicted the Republican governor’s veto in late March would lead to a government shutdown.
Instead, legislative leaders and the governor’s office worked together and drafted a new budget bill; the Legislature adjourned a day early.
Gov. Brad Henry on Wednesday vetoed the $6.7 billion …
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Pledge cards
All Democratic House members were delivered a card with an “Oklahoma legislative pledge for responsible state government” Tuesday.
The card seeks each member’s signature saying they agree to “protect vital state services, oppose partisan griblock and stand up for tax relief.” By signing, members agree to override any budget veto by the governor.
The cards are in response to a looming veto by Gov. Brad Henry of a budget agreement passed by the House and Senate last week. He started …
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Mental health courts: Henry to decide funding today
Kathy Kelly believes in mental health courts.
Going to one of the first mental health court sessions in Oklahoma helped her end a drug habit of about 25 years and inspired her to help those who need mental health services, the Oklahoma City woman told a crowd gathered yesterday at the state Capitol.
Kelly, 45, said she started taking illegal drugs when she was 11. She was diagnosed as having a bipolar disorder; she refused to take her medicine, but …
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Hours wasted?
The House continues to hear empty appropriations bills today, even though a budget agreement has been reached and passed by the Legislature.
The legislation — often called shell bills because there are blanks where funding figures could be inserted later with amendments — singles out every state agency. There are about 200 of these empty bills in the House and Senate this year.
In the past, each of the bills have been used to fund each agency individually. But, this …
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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 …
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Deal or …
Although excluded from being involved in money talks, Gov. Brad Henry says he’s keeping an open mind on a budget agreement that could be announced as early as tomorrow.
“It’s difficult to speculate about any budget proposal until I’ve seen and reviewed the details,” the governor said. “For whatever reason, legislative leaders have excluded the executive branch and most of their fellow lawmakers from budget negotiations.”
The proposed deal was announced Thursday by legislative leaders.
Senate President Pro Tempore Mike …
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College tuition rates locked-in
College freshman may be able to lock in college tuition rates for four years if a bill passed out of the House Tuesday becomes law.
The bill would give parents and students a way to plan for college expenses, supporters say.
“This is a bill for working families,” said Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore.
But opponents of the bill worry that students will have tuition locked in, and then see it raised anyway if the Legislature does not fund higher education …
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Jayhawk in the Sooner State
U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., joked today it was a good thing he wasn’t in Oklahoma City to raise money for his presidential campaign.
The University of Kansas Jayhawks earlier in the day beat the University of Oklahoma, knocking the Sooners out of the men’s Big 12 Championship being played at the Ford Center in downtown Oklahoma City.
Brownback is considered among the second tier of Republicans in the 2008 presidential sweepstakes, but he said he is encouraged by straw …
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Deadline week
Deadline week is upon us at the Capitol. Starting Monday, the House and Senate each have about 140 bills to hear in four days.
Topics like abortion, lawsuit reform and tax cuts will likely lead to spirited debate that has been known to last hours in both chambers. Earlier this week House lawmakers debated an immigration reform bill for three and a half hours. The Senate has no limit on debate time.
But next week is do-or-die for bills in …
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The governor and the general
Gov. Brad Henry got some face time with the new American commander of the multinational forces during his unannounced trip this week to Iraq.
The governor in a telephone interview yesterday from Kuwait told the Capitol press corps his biggest thrill was getting to spend time with some of the Oklahoma National Guardsmen stationed in Iraq.
He said he was impressed with Gen. David Patraeus during a briefing Tuesday in Baghdad. Others in the meeting were Zalmay Khalilizad, the U.S. …
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