Stitt, Senate Stalemate: Legislators Battle Over Education Bills

It was a late night for state senators at the capitol, as they took a few bold steps to show the House and governor they aren’t backing down and will continue fighting to get their education bills across the finish line.

“Not happy,” said Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat.

Tonight, the state Senate showed the governor just how serious they are about their education plans.

Governor Stitt vetoed 20 Senate bills overnight and sent a letter to Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat and the Senate saying he will continue vetoes if certain tax and education policies aren’t pushed through.

The letter stated, “Therefore, until the people of Oklahoma have a tax cut, until every teacher in the state gets the pay raise they deserve, until parents get a tax credit to send their child to the school of their choice, I am vetoing this unrelated policy and will continue to veto any and all legislation authored by Senators who have not stood with the people of Oklahoma and supported this plan.”

The same letter was attached to all 20 bills Governor Stitt vetoed late Wednesday night.

“Reading his veto message yesterday- I think it's very clear- more vetoes are coming,” said House Speaker Charles McCall.

“I think it's irrational behavior from the governor,” said Treat.

In response, tonight in the rules committee, the Senate unanimously voted to deny the appointment of the Cabinet Secretary of Health and Mental Health, Kevin Corbett and the Cabinet Secretary of Commerce, Chad Mariska. These are both members of the governor’s cabinet.

“He has chosen to exercise his veto authority, we are choosing to exercise our confirmation authority,” said Treat.

This comes after senators gutted a few House bills, stripping the language and inserting some of the Senate's original education bills instead, adding back their paid maternity leave bill and a teacher mentorship stipend.

On top of that, the Senate passed a tax credit bill for private and homeschool families and a bill that would give teacher pay raises of up to $8,000. The bills act separately, instead of companion bills such as the House and governor had planned for.

“The speaker told me this week- send me a standalone school choice bill. The governor said- send me a standalone school choice bill. We have delivered on both of their requests,” said Treat.

The two chambers and governor have been debating education plans for weeks. Yesterday, the House passed Stitt’s pay raise plan and discussed the governor's public-school funding and tax credit bills.

Together, the three bills would give a pay raise to teachers between $2,000 and $5,000 based on years of experience, $600 million to public school funding, and tax credits for private and homeschool families who make under $250,000 a year.

“I felt like it was much more weighted towards the Senate than the House plan,” said McCall.

House Speaker McCall said his chamber is ready to get that plan to the governor’s desk.

“We committed Tuesday to move his plan to a vote on the floor yesterday, the only thing standing in the way of that is the Oklahoma Senate,” said McCall.

Pro Tem Treat says his chamber worked hard to pass legislation that they believe in, and they will continue working to get their education plans to the governor’s desk.

“We're proud to stand with him on a teacher pay raise and school choice, but we will not be bullied,” said Treat.

Governor Stitt will hold his weekly press availability on Friday morning, where he is expected to respond to the Senate's actions Thursday night.