Stitt still reviewing state budget

More than 48 hours after state lawmakers unveiled their proposed state budget for fiscal year 2021, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he is still reviewing the details.

Pressed by reporters at a news conference Wednesday, Stitt declined to comment on the specifics of the $7.7 billion budget proposal that includes cuts to most state agencies.

Stitt said he didn't see details of the budget until leaders of Oklahoma's House and Senate publicly unveiled the budget deal Monday.

“We were made aware of the budget when the news media was on Monday,” he said. “We've got some questions that we're looking into.”

That stands in stark contrast to last year when Stitt, House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, and Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, jointly announced they had reached a budget deal.

Stitt indicated he has questions about why some agencies received cuts in appropriations while others received greater appropriations than they received in the current year.

Specifically, he questioned a 9% cut in appropriations for the Department of Public Safety and a 12% increase in appropriated funding for the attorney general's office.

Stitt indicated his budget team has directed some questions on the proposal to legislative leaders in both chambers.

“We've got certain questions on why they've cut certain agencies, why they gave certain agencies increases, but my team's looking through it,” he said.

As Stitt continues to review the budget proposal, budget writers f or t he House and Senate said Monday they think

they have the votes to override a gubernatorial veto on parts or all of the budget. The

Legislature can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

When asked if he's concerned he may not get much of a say in the budget if legislators effectively override him, Stitt chuckled.

“It's a crazy system we have, isn't it? he said.

“That's the balance of power that we have in this system. I'm the executive branch, they're the Legislature. They write the budget. If I don't think it's a good deal for Oklahoma, then I will veto and I will explain directly to Oklahomans what my problems are with this budget. Then they have the right to override that.

Oklahoma' s House is expected to pass the general appropriations bill — the meat of the state budget — Thursday. Once passed, the bill will go to Stitt's desk.