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 budget prepared by legislative leaders largely because his office and House Democrats were left out of budget talks. Republican leaders in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives and Democratic and Republican leaders in the evenly split Senate put together the spending bill; Henry’s office and House Democrats were excluded.
The governor said he is optimistic what occurred six years ago could happen this session.
“To say that this veto would somehow poison or dampen an atmosphere of bipartisanship is absurd,” he said.
What do you think? Will new rounds of budget talks be productive? Do you think an override attempt will occur?
Michael McNutt
Capitol Bureau
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