Fallin Signs General Appropriations Bill, Vetoes 1 Section

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has signed a $6.8 billion budget to fund state government for the upcoming fiscal year, but issued a line-item veto over one section of the bill she says was not consistent with a budget deal reached with lawmakers.

Fallin signed the general appropriations bill on Friday, one day before her constitutional deadline for signing the measure.

The section she vetoed directed the Office of Management and Enterprise Services to pay $473,000 for volunteer fire department workers' compensation premiums. Fallin says that money will be paid instead by the CompSource Mutual Insurance Company.

Fallin vetoed a separate bill on Friday by House Speaker Jeff Hickman she says would have required inmates convicted of certain 85 percent crimes to spend more time in prison.