Governor Brad Henry Vetoes Bill To Take Away Tuition Authority

Monday, June 26th 2006, 5:16 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Gov. Brad Henry on Monday vetoed a bill that would have taken the authority to raise tuition away from the state Regents for Higher Education and given that power to the state Legislature.

Henry's veto message said the tuition bill deviated from the agenda of the special session he called to write a state budget and work on related matters such as tax cuts.

He also said it created a major policy change with little discussion or debate.

"The special session call focused on the state budget, not college tuition, so the legislation was clearly outside the scope of the agenda I outlined," the Democratic governor said.

The measure was presented at the special session by Sen. Frank Shurden, D-Henryetta. It was sponsored in the state House by Rep. Tad Jones, R-Claremore.