Fallin vetoes regulatory reform measure, Faught responds

I've been swamped with work (both figuratively and literally), so blogging has taken a back burner for a few days. Here's one news item that came in the other day after Gov. Fallin issued her first veto of the year:

Faught Disappointed in Governor’s Veto

OKLAHOMA CITY – [April 26th], in a blow to public accountability, Gov. Mary Fallin vetoed government transparency and accountability legislation.

House Bill 1552, by Rep. George Faught (R-Muskogee), is one of several bills that would institute much needed reforms to the state regulatory process. The House and Senate overwhelmingly approved both of Rep. Faught's administrative rules reform bills. HB1552 would be one step toward restoring an effective and proven administrative rules process, reclaiming legislative control over the process, and strengthening transparency and accountability.

“I am disappointed that Governor Fallin is hindering this effort.” said Faught, R-Muskogee. “Maintaining the broken status-quo continues to fail Oklahomans by allowing unelected bureaucrats to usher through significant regulation without adequate legislative input. The people of Oklahoma deserve to have their elected representatives exercise oversight of the regulatory process. By vetoing HB1552, the Governor is effectively silencing the legislature.”

Over the last few years, the administrative rules have been operating under a “default system,” whereby all agency rules can be automatically approved by the Governor without the input or review of the legislature.

Under the current system, when an agency raises fees or changes scope of practice through the administrative rules process, it effectively bypasses the legislature and the people’s elected representatives. Over the last 34 years, no resolution disapproving rules has been successfully enacted. Since his re-election in 2014, Faught has been advocating for restoring an effective and proven administrative rules process.

This measure would restore some of the oversight and protect Oklahomans. HB1552 passed the House 71-23 and passed the Senate 43-0.