John ,

Last night Governor Stitt vetoed the legislature’s proposed budget which raids the teacher, police and firefighter pension funds and makes use of one-time revenues instead of cutting spending to address the budget shortfall all states have experienced as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Governor’s statement on the veto is here:

“This budget was created behind closed doors, without meaningful input or consultation from the Executive Branch.

“This proposed budget does not reflect the values of Oklahoma or the clear directive voters gave elected officials at the ballot box of living within our means and making hard decisions when times get tough. Instead, Senate Bill 1922 reflects misguided policies that conservative republicans have spent the past decade reversing. It is propped up with one-time funds that will not be available for Fiscal Year 2022.

“As Governor, I was elected to manage the Executive Branch, which includes managing expenses and right-sizing agencies. This budget is going to back the state into a financial corner, which leaves us with very few options in FY 2022 – we will either have to raise taxes or implement draconian cuts. As Governor I am here to protect the taxpayer – not harm them.” – Governor Kevin Stitt

Addressing the proposed cuts to the Teachers’ Retirement System, Oklahoma Firefighters’ Pension and Retirement Fund, Police Pension and Retirement System, and Law Enforcement Retirement Fund, Governor Stitt said:

“These bills would take tens of millions of dollars away from teachers, law enforcement officers, and firefighters to fund district costs, and it would bring our funding ratio back down to where it was in 2014. While I understand the importance of a balanced budget, it is fiscally irresponsible to do so at the expense of the solvency of these pension systems. I will not play a part in harming Oklahoma’s dedicated teachers and emergency responders.” – Governor Kevin Stitt

--Team Stitt