Despite Vetoes, Major Legislation Still Alive

Sunday, April 29th 2007, 3:52 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Governor Brad Henry has been active with his veto pen, but there are still plenty of important issues for lawmakers to tackle in the final four weeks of the 2007 Legislature.

From immigration to tax cuts and propping up the underfunded teacher's retirement system, members of the Oklahoma House and Senate will cast critical votes before lawmakers must adjourn on May 25th.

Their most important task will be to write a budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1st.

Many of Henry's programs were ignored in a $6.9 billion budget negotiated by House and Senate leaders, resulting in Henry vetoing most of it.

Yesterday, Henry broke out the veto pen again, this time to reject a sweeping reform of the state's civil justice system. Henry said the bill was too one-sided and may have been unconstitutional.

In the past five weeks alone Henry has issued more than 140 vetoes including line-item vetoes of the 2008 budget and five single-agency budget bills he vetoed on Friday.