Lawmakers override Stitt's vetoes, including OETA legislation

The Oklahoma Legislature fired back at Gov. Kevin Stitt's veto authority on Thursday, ensuring the continued survival of OETA and criticizing the governor's "tantrum" earlier this session that led to 20 bills being vetoed.

Cheers broke out in the Oklahoma House of Representatives as lawmakers approved the bill that reauthorizes OETA as a state entity for at least another three years. The Senate added its override vote a few hours later.

In his veto of House Bill 2820 last month, Stitt said he questioned the public broadcaster's value to the state. He later claimed OETA "overly sexualizes" children and indoctrinates them.

Asked for proof, he pointed to news programs that discussed transgender issues and scripted programming that acknowledges the existence of LGBTQ people.

More: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt claims PBS, OETA 'overly sexualizes our kids'

Oklahoma Legislature overrides several vetoes in last days of session

Thirteen bills were pressed into law Thursday as lawmakers spent hours undoing the governor's decisions. Some had pointed words for the governor.

State Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, said Stitt "ignored the authority of the Legislature" when he vetoed a bill to reauthorize the board that oversees licensed architects and interior designers.

Stitt also showed "no logical reason or rational thinking" when vetoing a bill that corrected an error in previously adopted legislation, said state Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville.

More: OK Senate leader offers hope OETA will be funded despite Stitt veto controversy

During the months-long legislative fight over how to give families a tax credit for sending their child to private school, the governor vetoed 20 unrelated Senate bills as retribution for not yet adopting his tax cut and education plans.

"We're not even dealing with a policy bill, yet here we are today taking up the time of the Senate to address a veto message that appears to me to be nothing more than a tantrum," said state Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry.

Senate Floor Leader Greg McCortney referred to the bills as the "tantrum 20."

"During a recent tantrum, the chief executive of the state indicated that he did not think it was important for hospice patients who reside in nursing homes to have quick access to pain medication," said McCortney, R-Ada, referring to the veto of Senate Bill 249.

Between the House and Senate, lawmakers considered veto overrides on nearly three dozen bills Thursday, but only 13 were overridden by both chambers. In total, 32 out of the 46 bills vetoed this year remain in jeopardy, including legislation on victim protective orders, McCortney's bill on hospice medicine and modifications to assistance programs for state employees and disabled Oklahomans.

House lawmakers sustained the governor's veto on legislation that could have made it more costly to defend against SLAPP lawsuits, or strategic lawsuits against public participation.

Vetoes on the following bills were overridden by both chambers on Thursday. Lawmakers will meet again Friday, leaving time for additional overrides if leadership bring them to the floor.

• SB 299: Re-creates the Oklahoma Advisory Council on Indian Education

• SB 429: Allows students to wear tribal regalia during graduation

• SB 563: Relates to Medicaid reimbursement for anesthesia

• SB 623: Various measures related to Service Oklahoma issuance of driver's licenses

• SB 712: Directs the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to provide emergency opioid antagonists (naloxone) to hospitals

• SB 775: Relates to county employee education programs

• SB 840: Allows collegiate athletes to negotiate name, image and likeness contracts without securing a licensed agent

• SB 951: Raises county commissioner and sheriff travel allowance

• HB 1843: Transfers responsibility to enforce the Patients Right to Pharmacy Choice Act from the Oklahoma Insurance Department to the Oklahoma attorney general

• HB 2255: Authorizes several new specialty license plates

• HB 2263: Removes the governor's sole authority to appoint members to the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority

• HB 2820: Reauthorizes OETA for another three years

• HB 2863: Establishes the Oklahoma State University Veterinary Medicine Authority to oversee veterinary medicine education programs

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Lawmakers reject Gov. Kevin Stitt's vetoes, including OETA funding