Henry Completes Action On 480 Measures

Governor Henry today finished taking action on bills passed during the 2009 legislative session, his office reports.

In all, 480 bills and resolutions were sent to the governor for consideration during state lawmakers’ four-month meeting.

The governor vetoed 21 bills, a new single-session record for him, and used his line-item veto to eliminate one provision of an appropriations measure. He approved the remaining pieces of legislation.

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Henry Nears Veto Record With Two New Ones

With his vetoes of two bills on Tuesday, Governor Henry is one veto shy of tying his previous veto record of 13 in a legislative session. He has now vetoed 12 measures this year.

One measure Henry vetoed, Senate Bill 1600, would have mandated restrictions on injured workers.

He also vetoed Senate Bill 934 that would have dictated which drugs could be prescribed under the Medicaid program.

In his veto message, Henry said SB1600, the injured worker bill, is bad policy and would have unintended consequences.

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Henry Vetoes 10th Amendment Resolution

Governor Henry has vetoed a legislative resolution that suggests Oklahoma should return federal tax dollars to Washington and that past and present U.S. leaders violated the U.S Constitution and committed crimes against the states.

The resolution was billed as an expression of support for the 10th Amendment, which deals with the rights of states.

Henry says it goes beyond that and makes allegations without offering explanation or evidence.

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Republicans Challenge Henry On Veto Of Lawsuit Reform Measure

Republican said today that when it comes to choosing trial lawyers or teachers, Oklahomans now know where Gov. Brad Henry’s loyalties lie: The trial lawyers.

In a news release, Republicans said Henry "vetoed a bipartisan lawsuit reform bill that would have curbed lawsuit abuse against teachers and school administrators who enforce discipline in the classroom. The veto is a major blow to teachers and schools, but it protects Henry’s allies in the trial lawyer industry."

The School Protection Act, Senate Bill 1024, is authored by State Senate Co-Floor Leader Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, and State Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa. The bill was supported by the Oklahoma Education Association.

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