Oklahoma AG says governor can negotiate with tribes

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A new attorney general's opinion says the governor can negotiate compacts with American Indian tribes and other entities without legislative approval. <br/><br/>Written by senior

Tuesday, August 31st 2004, 5:33 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ A new attorney general's opinion says the governor can negotiate compacts with American Indian tribes and other entities without legislative approval.

Written by senior Assistant Attorney General Neal Leader, the opinion says the governor's authority rests both in the Oklahoma Constitution and in a state law.

The opinion says a requirement that each agreement negotiated by the governor be approved by the Legislature would put lawmakers in control of the approval process. The opinion says that would violate the separation-of-powers doctrine.