Fallin’s veto leaves ‘unanswered questions’
When asked what the Oklahoma Legislature might do after Gov. Mary Fallin line-item vetoed the product of its eightweek special session, House Floor Leader Jon Echols struggled to give an answer.
“I don’t think anybody really understands what the intent of this is,” said Echols, R-Oklahoma City. “There’s a lot of unanswered questions here.”
It appears that her veto leaves the state short $110 million this year instead of $215 million, which mostly affected three agencies that have a critical health care mission. She signed enough of the bill to send some money to the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority and the Department of Human Services.
Fallin said she wants to call the Legislature back into special session to address the shortfall without spending what is considered one-time funding. She didn't say, however, when that might happen.
"Bringing the Legislature back into special session at this point seems like a waste of time and taxpayer dollars," Senate President Pro Tem Mike Schulz said. "The governor’s veto doesn’t help Oklahoma thrive; it only serves to throw our budget further into chaos."
The next legislative session begins in February, leaving little time for lawmakers to reach a second budget deal.
Echols said the veto, which eliminated budget cuts and some funding sources but still appropriated money to the trio of health care agencies, leaves Oklahoma without a balanced budget.
"I don't know that you can do that," he said. "Because we had no notice this was coming, and we were told she was going to sign it, most of our time has been spent analyzing what she actually did. When that's done, we can think about what’s next."
Fallin's action over appropriated Oklahoma's special cash fund, which was used in the budget bill to appropriate an additional
$60 million more than lawmakers originally passed during regular session in May. Ultimately, agencies receiving money from the fund will receive an amount proportional to the available cash.
David Blatt, executive director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, said his biggest concern with the line-item veto is that it leaves agencies short $110 million.
"Because they received an infusion of cash, they’re going to be OKfor now but they all face a shortfall," Blatt said. "I think it creates some real uncertainty for agencies what to do at this point. I think they have some really tough choices to make. They’re going to have to act without certainty as to what’s ahead."
"HB1019X didn't address long-term stability. The governor's decision to line-item veto most of the bill is an opportunity for lawmakers to provide long-term budget stability," Fallin spokesman Michael McNutt said.
He also said that the veto provides time to address the long-term stability of the three affected health agencies — the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Department of Human Services and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
"The governor's office is working with these agency heads to adjust their budgets," he said.