Many local residents have said they disagree with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s recent vetoes of legislation to extend compacts with the state’s tribal nations.
In late May, Stitt vetoed two bills that would have granted one-year extensions to the state’s tobacco and motor vehicle licensing and registration compacts.
In his veto message, Still said Senate Bill 26x, which would have extended tobacco tax compacts, circumvents his authority to negotiate compacts and is not in Oklahoma’s best interests.
“As enacted, Senate Bill 26x would strike pre-McGirt compacts that contained the same language that five of the state’s 38 federally recognized tribes have relied on to challenge, in Stroble v. While I believe the tribes’ arguments in Stroble are without merit, to legislate as if at least those few tribes were unwilling to make the same argument in the tobacco tax context, and likely elsewhere, is, reckless at best,” Stitt wrote. .
As for House Bill 1005x, Still said the legislation seeks to extend the motor vehicle licensing compact without regard to whether the decade-long deal is a fair deal for the advancement of the state
Several of those compact renewals are set to expire on Dec. 31, and lawmakers are considering a special session to override the vetoes.
District 9 state Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, shared his thoughts on the vetoes.
“I think it was a bad decision by the governor to veto those two measures. We are planning a special session to override those two vetoes in the coming weeks,” Pemberton said.
Pemberton said his is a “yes” vote on overrides.
In a statement to CNHI in May, Chuck Hoskin Jr., principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, said Stitt has already allowed numerous compacts to lapse, losing millions of dollars and setting tribal relations back. He said if the compacts are not expanded, Oklahoma will lose stable revenue streams and costly lawsuits and business interruptions will result.
“Like when Governor Stitt allowed hunting and fishing compacts to expire, tribes would respond by exercising our sovereignty, without intergovernmental cooperation,” Hoskin said. “But the Cherokee Nation would rather continue building education, public safety, roads and jobs in Northeast Oklahoma, not divert our focus to confrontation and litigation.”
During a Saturday, June 3 Facebook forum, Tahlequah Daily Press readers were asked their thoughts on Stitt’s vetoes, whether tribes should withdraw from the compacts and stop sharing their revenue, and whether the Legislature it would have to reconvene to override the vetoes.
“Stitt doesn’t know much about anything,” Tahlequah resident Prissy England Been said.
Area resident Brent Been, who is also a TDP columnist, said he wouldn’t want to see the state of Oklahoma lose millions in compact revenue, and he doesn’t think the tribes would want that to happen either.
“While tribes are sovereign, all of Oklahoma benefits from shared tobacco and vehicle registration revenues,” Brent said.
Brent said Stitt needs to stop this “reckless retaliatory method of governance” because it’s not good for the state or tribal nations.
State Rep. Bob Ed Culver, R-Tahlequah, did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.
what you said
In a website poll, TDP asked readers to choose the statement that most closely aligned with their thoughts on Governor Stitt’s vetoes. Nearly 37% said, “Since they can do it legally, tribes should just go ahead and not give money to Oklahoma from these sales”; 30% said, “Stitt should stick with the current deal with the tribes to benefit both them and the state”; 23.3% said, “Stitt should stand his ground and insist that tribes pay more money, even if it ultimately costs the state”; and 10% said, “The Legislature should override the veto and hope a deal can be reached.”
