Gov Vetoes Pay Increase Funding, Threatens Auditor's Watchdog Abilities

OKLAHOMA CITY -Governor Keating's vetoes of separate appropriations for the State Auditor and Inspector's Office and the Oklahoma Tax Commission have wiped out a mandated pay raise for those agencies' employees, even though the Governor had already approved the pay hikes in separate legislation less than two months ago.

"Talk about a flip-flop," said Senator Kelly Haney, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "The Governor was certainly willing to soak up the lime light when he signed the pay raise last month, but now that the rent has come due, he doesn't want to pay the bill.

"Either he didn't know what he was vetoing or he's broken his promise to state employees. There's no other explanation."

While the Governor line-item vetoed pay raises for state employees in the Auditor's Office and the Tax Commission, he approved pay hikes for workers at different agencies in the same bill.

"I noticed he didn't have any problem signing off on pay raise funding for the Office of Finance and other agencies in HB 1787. Apparently, he has something against the employees at the Auditor's office and the Tax Commission. I hope it's not true, but there certainly appear to be some partisan overtones here."

Governor Keating is a Republican, Auditor Cliff Scott is a Democrat.

In addition to pay raise funding, the Governor wiped out money earmarked for equipment upgrades and other operational expenses at the Auditor's office.

"I'm especially concerned about the impact on the Auditor and Inspector's office, given its oversight role in state government. In effect, the Governor is taking away some of the tools the auditor has to help him root out waste and corruption in the public sector.

"The auditor can't be a very effective watchdog for the people of Oklahoma if the Governor pulls his teeth. I guess Governor Keating would prefer that the auditor's bark be worse than his bite," said Senator Haney.

At the Tax Commission, the Governor wiped out funding to implement HB 2102, a program designed to expedite the distribution of disputed property tax revenues to public schools.

"Our schools desperately need that money, but Governor Keating's veto is going to prevent them from getting it in a timely manner," said Senator Haney.

Given the mixed messages coming from the Governor's office, Senate leaders are still trying to decipher some of the conflicting and erroneous statements in the latest veto message. For example, Governor Keating said he vetoed the appropriations in HB 1787 because the "excess funds must be preserved for future budgetary needs in order to offset fiscally irresponsible spending in other parts of the budget."

"That statement doesn't make any sense at all. If you take it literally, the Governor is saying he is vetoing responsible spending so he can offset irresponsible spending that he approves later. I think he's got his priorities a little mixed up," said Senator Haney.