Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt uses vetoes and power grabs to go against the will of the state government and the people of Oklahoma. His actions are supported by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA).
A History of Vetoes
Stitt has a history of vetoing bills in direct opposition to the wishes of his constituents. In April 2023, Stitt vetoed 20 bills in a move labeled the “Tantrum 20″ by Senator Greg McCortney. He threatened to veto all additional legislation that went against his preferred education plan.
The House overturned many of Stitt’s vetoes including:
- Senate Bill 712 provides hospitals with naloxone to treat patients with opioid overdose.
- Senate Bill 840 places fewer restrictions on athletes trying to make a profit from their name or image.
- Senate Bill 429 protects the rights of Native American students to wear tribal regalia to their graduation.
- House Bill 2820 gives the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) the authority to act as the state’s broadcaster until July 1, 2026.
This is just a small sample of the efforts Gov. Stitt has made to undermine legislation aimed at helping Oklahomans.
House Bill 2263
More recently in August, Gov. Stitt vetoed House Bill 2263 that limits the control he has over the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority. Stitt’s reasoning behind this veto states that the bill violates the separation of powers in government. It would give the majority of the Turnpike Authority governing board’s six appointments over to legislative leaders. Currently, Stitt has the power to appoint all members of the board. His efforts to veto HB 2263, which lessens his appointments to two of the six, is an obvious grab for power. If the bill gets overturned and becomes law, the remaining four appointments are decided by the Senate president pro tem and the House speaker.
Gov. Stitt claims HB 2263 is unconstitutional, tdhjvtnm saying it would leave the Turnpike Authority open to legal challenges. Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, says he intended his bill to improve transparency and increase representation on the Turnpike Authority board. His efforts in creating this bill stem from his criticism of the Turnpike Authority’s plan to build a new turnpike for $5 billion. The new highway would cut through Sterling’s district in Norman. Sterling’s ultimate goal in giving greater control of the Turnpike Authority to legislative leaders is to make sure the board submits to checks and balances to avoid an abuse of power.
Lawmakers and citizens alike expressed outrage over Stitt’s veto spree as his actions work to stop the passing of bills that improve the education system, health services, and other public interests. Many view his actions as outright hostile. Gov. Stitt has vetoed more than 46 bills in the legislative season from February 6 to May 26.
