Latest news with #HouseBill2163
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmakers overturn vetoes on dozens of measures, including mammograms, records transparency
Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman, front, talks with Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, and Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Oklahoma City, while awaiting votes on a veto override during the Senate session on Thursday. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma House rose for a standing ovation Thursday after overturning the governor's veto of a bill expanding access to mammograms for early breast cancer detection. Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, the bill's author, said the standing ovation was 'powerful' and a reminder that people are humans before they are politicians. She was battling breast cancer for the length of the legislative session. Despite a nearly five hour delay in the Senate, the measure was one of nearly four dozen vetoes the House and Senate overturned on the penultimate day of session as they worked past midnight and into Friday morning before adjourning. Lawmakers moved to overturn the majority of Stitt's vetoes. Provenzano was met with another round of applause Thursday night when she returned to the House chamber after the Senate voted to finalize the veto override. 'I'm just reminded again, that we're humans first, politicians second,' Provenzano said. 'And I think every member and every staff member and the people in this building, if what we experienced here is going on in the state of Oklahoma, then it's time for something like this. Because everybody had a story of a sister or a mother, an aunt, a wife. And so it was just powerful.' Stitt said he vetoed the bill because while he is 'sympathetic' to those battling breast cancer, the legislation would have imposed 'new and costly' insurance mandates on private health plans and raised insurance premiums. To override a veto from the governor, two-thirds of representatives and senators must vote in favor of the measure or three-quarters if the measure contains an emergency provision. The dozens of overrides ranged from measures that aimed to increase public access to open records to missing and murdered indigenous people. Some of the measures lawmakers vetoed included: House Bill 2785 that gives the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services the ability to review the budget and finances of the state Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, which has had ongoing financial troubles. The governor said it was 'nonsensical and ineffective' to task one executive agency with micromanaging another; House Bill 2163 that gives the Attorney General's Office the power to enforce violations of the Open Records Act. Stitt said the bill would give Attorney General Gentner Drummond 'sweeping and unchecked authority' to access records from all state agencies, an 'unprecedented' power in Oklahoma. Drummond had previously urged lawmakers to override the veto; House Bill 2048 that prohibits insurers and pharmacy benefit managers from discriminatory reimbursement practices. Stitt wrote in his veto message that this was a federal issue and the Legislature should not insert itself. House Bill 1137 that removes a requirement that the Office of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons be federally funded, opening it up to state funding. Stitt said he vetoed the measure because he doesn't endorse legislation that 'singles out victims based solely on their race.' Stitt posted a video Thursday afternoon telling voters to closely watch how lawmakers vote on veto overrides. 'This is stuff I know is bad for Oklahoma, bad for taxpayers,' he said in the video. 'And you've got the Senate and House and special interest groups that are trying to override my vetoes.' Stitt said Thursday that he had vetoed 68 bills this session that would overregulate businesses and create higher taxes for Oklahomans. He said voters should pay attention to which lawmakers supported overrides of his vetoes. Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, referenced Stitt's comments while making a motion to override a veto on one of his bills, House Bill 2459, which pertains to fire safety in mobile food vehicles. 'Evidently, since the governor has called for all of us to be primaried that override his vetoes today, and his staff cant seem to read a bill correctly and they vetoed my bill, I make a motion to override the veto,' he said. Legislative proceedings stalled for nearly five hours after Senate leaders struggled to get the required number of votes necessary to override House Bill 2769. The measure contained a series of amendments to the leadership requirements and rules of the Oklahoma National Guard. The Senate passed the override just after 9 p.m. Stitt's override message said he vetoed the bill because it made major changes to the National Guard and state finances without a thorough fiscal analysis. 'While I applaud all our men and women who serve our country and our state in the National Guard, I cannot allow this bill to become law,' he wrote. '… The policies in this bill should be considered, reviewed, and debated as separate and distinct bills.' The bill makes several amendments to the qualifications necessary to serve as adjutant general of the Oklahoma National Guard, an officer overseeing administrative and personnel matters. The position could now be filled by someone with a rank of colonel or higher. It also grants the officer additional powers. The officer is to be compensated at the same rate of pay afforded to a major general. Several changes were also made to the Oklahoma Uniform Code of Military Justice. 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Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
The most concerning part of Oklahoma's new budget is what was left out
I want to commend the Oklahoma Legislature for getting the budget done. That's never an easy task. I was involved in budget negotiations during my last eight years in office and know firsthand how difficult those conversations can be. I appreciate the time and effort it took to reach an agreement. For the most part, I agree with this year's budget. In fact, my biggest concerns lie not with what was included — but with what was left out. Could we have done more? Absolutely. Still, there were meaningful wins: • Funding for Oklahoma State University veterinary school — We need to position OSU as the premier veterinary university in the country. • Support for the new pediatric hospital at OU Health — Our children deserve top-tier care right here at home. • $20 million in additional funding for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation — An investment in our roads and infrastructure is an investment in public safety and economic development. • Additional funding for deferred maintenance — Long-overdue needs finally being addressed. Though I'm no longer in elected office, I still care deeply about the direction of this state. My hope is that future leaders will have the courage to stand firm — not just for the politics of the moment, but for the people of Oklahoma. That means listening, being transparent and acting. The easy choice is to stay silent. This session won't just be remembered for what was passed — but for what was sidelined, ignored or vetoed. Our View: Three vetoes by Gov. Kevin Stitt should be overridden by the OK Legislature One of the most disappointing moments was the veto of a bipartisan bill championed by Rep. Melissa Provenzano to support women battling breast cancer. This wasn't about politics — it was about people. It had broad support across the aisle, yet was still shut down. If we can't come together on something that personal and human, it's not just disappointing — it's disheartening. Then came the social studies standards. Most of us weren't asking to throw them out — just to send them back to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for a responsible review. That didn't happen. Instead, the revised standards were moved forward without further input. Equally troubling is the continued inaction on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP). Oklahoma ranks second in the nation for MMIP cases — an unacceptable and heartbreaking reality. Native families have been crying out for years, and year after year, the state fails to act. Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Tom Cole stood before Congress and gave powerful testimony. He showed us what leadership looks like. I agree with him completely: We cannot give predators a place to prey, especially not in Indian Country. As a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, I stand with him and the families demanding justice. We also missed a chance to improve transparency with House Bill 2163, which would have expanded public access to open records. That bill revealed something many of us already knew: resistance to accountability runs deep. During my final years in office, I had to issue subpoenas just to get basic information. The public deserves to know how decisions are made, and why. Transparency should never be treated as a threat. Opinion: Ryan Walters uses Education Department to further his own political career Then there's the ¼ percent income tax cut. It made for a strong headline, but back home in Moore, South OKC and across Western Oklahoma, the question I hear most is simple: Why? No one has clearly explained what it means for everyday people. Maybe it's a good idea — but most folks are still scratching their heads. And to be clear — these aren't just my thoughts. These are the thoughts of people I hear from every week at coffee shops, cafes, the lumberyard, the feed store, gas stations and from business leaders across Oklahoma. They're not asking for less government — they're asking for responsible government. Better schools. Better roads. Safer communities. We currently rank 49th in the nation in education funding, and last in our region for per-pupil investment. People remember what it was like during the billion-dollar deficit years. They know that Oklahoma is a boom-and-bust state, and they have no problem with keeping a solid savings account for the next downturn. What they do have a problem with is political distractions. We need to stop chasing national political fights and start focusing on what Oklahomans are asking for. The answers won't come from Washington — they'll come from listening to our neighbors and acting with courage right here at home. This session reminded me of something I learned in my early days at the Capitol: Good policy often dies quietly. Not through public debate, but through silence, neglect or veto. Some of the greatest disappointments this year weren't in what we passed — but in what we failed to do. Mark McBride is a businessman and consultant and a former member of the House of Representatives, from 2012-2024. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: The most disappointing moments from the Oklahoma Legislature in 2025
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Veto of public records transparency measure draws ire from Oklahoma Attorney General
Gov. Kevin Stitt speaks at a rally outside Oklahoma's Capitol celebrating the state's private school tax credit program on March 12, 2025. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY – Gov. Kevin Stitt's veto of a bill that would provide Oklahomans more recourse in pursuing open records has drawn the ire of the state's attorney general. Stitt vetoed House Bill 2163 that would have formally created a Public Access Counselor Unit in Drummond's office and a deadline-laden process to help those seeking public records. The measure would allow for a person to request a review from the access counselor, who will then determine if the denial violated state law and advise the public body. The government body must then promptly and reasonably comply. 'Oklahomans have several effective tools to ensure transparency and accountability in government,' Stitt's veto message said. 'Public records laws and the courts provide a neutral, fair process to review and resolve disputes over access to information. This bill bypasses that process and concentrates too much power in one office.' Attorney General Gentner Drummond criticized the veto, saying Stitt didn't want him to have increased authority and the ability to hold the governor and his 'failed political appointees' accountable for not following the law. 'As Attorney General, I serve the people of Oklahoma, not bureaucrats or politicians,' Drummond said. 'My client is the state of Oklahoma, not powerful insiders or special-interest groups.' He said the veto would not stop him from upholding the law and fulfilling his duty to Oklahomans. In 2023, Drummond announced he had hired former Republican State Senator Anthony Sykes as his public access counselor to help resolve disputes over open records. Sykes has received 354 complaints and resolved 302, said Leslie Berger, a Drummond spokeswoman. His salary is $99,225, she said. A request submitted in 2024 by Oklahoma Voice to Sykes for assistance in obtaining unredacted flight logs from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation has yet to receive a response. A 2024 Oklahoma Voice investigation found that the names of people on trips Stitt and others took on a state plane were redacted and did not list a purpose for the trip, which experts said appeared contrary to state law. Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, the House author, said he is considering a veto override attempt. He said he was frustrated by the veto, adding that he has spent years trying to get the measure passed. 'It seems that this is more of a political thing – an ongoing tiff between the attorney general and governor,' Pfeiffer said. The two Republicans have been at odds over a number of issues. The measure passed the House by a vote of 80-9 and the Senate by a vote of 40-5. A veto override would take three-fourths votes in both chambers because the bill has an emergency clause. Measures without an emergency clause take two-thirds votes in both chambers. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers advance bill giving Oklahoma AG power to enforce Open Records Act violations
Attorney General Gentner Drummond has offered support for legislation that would give his office the power to investigate reports of violations of the state's open records act. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office could soon have the power to investigate delayed or denied open records requests after the state House advanced legislation Tuesday. House Bill 2163 establishes the Public Access Counselor Unit within the Attorney General's Office and allows people to file a report with the office with a written request. The measure is not expected to have an impact on the state budget. Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Orlando, who authored the legislation, said he hopes this will give private individuals, the media and lawmakers a path to speed up the release of public records. 'The way it is now in statute, the only recourse is to take the matter to district court. This will put an intermediary into the process to reduce time and court cost,' he said in a statement. 'This would result in better transparency and accountability.' Under the measure, the public access counselor can determine if the denied request is a violation of state law and has seven business days to forward the request to the public body and ask them to provide the records requested. The public body must then respond to the counselor. The attorney general would examine the request and response by the public body and issue an advisement. The public body would be required to take necessary action to reasonably comply with the Open Records Act or respond to the requester. The bill authorizes the attorney general to issue advisory opinions on compliance with the Open Records Act and to investigate and prosecute any civil or criminal action relating to violations of the act. People requesting public records for commercial purposes would not be able to ask the office for a review. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond supported the House's passage of the bill and said it was an 'important transparency measure.' 'Oklahomans have a right to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent and what their elected officials are doing to improve their lives,' he said in a statement. Drummond previously issued a statement urging House lawmakers to pass the measure. The bill is now eligible to be heard by the Oklahoma Senate after it was passed 80-9, with bipartisan support and opposition. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Drummond seeks legislators support enhancing government transparency, accountability
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is appealing to legislators in a press release this week promoting the increase of government transparency by passing House Bill 2163. According to the AG's office, the push coincides with Sunshine Week, highlighting the significance of public records and open government transparency. Authored by Rep. John Pfeiffer and Sen. Brent Howard, HB 2163 seeks to create the Public Access Counselor unit inside the AG's office. According to Drummond's office, the unitwould review complaints regarding a state department, board, or commission compliance response time. Ethics Commission settlement reached with State Supt. Ryan Walters The measure passed the first hurdle out of the House Government Oversight Committee early this month, Drummond noted. 'Transparency and accountability are critical for a government truly answerable to the people,' said Drummond. 'Citizens have a right to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent and what their elected officials are doing to improve their lives.' Drummond created the public access counselor position shortly after taking office saying, 'It is my hope that legislators will ensure the Open Records and Open Meeting Acts have teeth by approving HB 2163.' The measure is set next week to be considered by the House. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
