While Oklahoma utilities and some legislators wait to see if the governor will sign their measure into law allowing utilities to pass costs along to ratepayers while construction projects are in progress, the governor has a long list of measures already vetoed.
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has shown he can be not only blunt in some of his vetoes of bills sent to him by the legislature, but also creative in his explanations.
For instance, in his veto of SB837, a measure allowing for the creation of dozens of special license plates including an Environmental Awareness License Plate, a Wildlife Conservation License Plate, a Animal Friendly License Plate and an Oklahoma City Zoo License Plate, the Governor called it a “bloated catalogue full of taxpayer-funded advertisements for special interest groups” adding a special mention of the zoo plate.
“The legislation allows for a fee increase on a seemingly existing license plate, but there is no Oklahoma City Zoo license plate
currently available. It’s bananas that our Legislature has time to dedicate to creating more novelty license plates but doesn’t have the time to pass tax cuts. The Legislature should stop monkeying around and address the elephant in the room. It’s time to boa up and pass tax cuts. For these reasons, I have vetoed Enrolled Senate Bill 837.”
Or his veto of HB1819.
“A fee increase is nothing more than a bureaucrat’s attempt at a pay raise. This bill would raise optometry license fees from $300 to $500, which will raise prices for Oklahoma consumers for
something as simple as kids’ glasses. Every time government gets involved, prices go up. Not on my watch.”
He showes his bluntness in his veto of SB363
“Private religious institutions shouldn’t have to play “mother may I” with the state regents. This bill is another example of government stepping into a process it shouldn’t have a role
in. If a student chooses to pursue a degree at a private religious school, they should be allowed to do that at the institution of their choice.”
Gov. Stitt displayed brevity in another veto.
“Pursuant to the authority vested in me by Section 11 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, I have vetoed Enrolled House Bill 2170. Don’t stick a new fee into a cleanup bill. For these reasons, I have vetoed Enrolled House Bill 2170.”