Oklahoma SB 800 Now Goes to Governor Henry

More good news from Oklahoma: The State House just passed Senate Bill 800 by a vote of 83-12. The Senate passed it last week, 39-0. Now it goes to Governor Brad Henry for his signature.

SB 800 changes the ballot title process to the beginning of the petition process, so that proponents of initiatives cannot be thrown off the ballot after doing all the work to gather hundreds of thousands of signatures.

Since emerging from conference committee, House Bill 2246 has also passed the House, by a vote of 87-1, and is expected to be on the Senate floor tomorrow or Thursday. HB 2246 lengthens the petition period from the current mere 90 days to a full year.

If passed by the Senate before Friday’s scheduled adjournment, this bill would also go to Governor Henry.

We would be surprised if the Governor were to veto either bill. These are common sense reforms. Further, the margin of victory in both chambers is so whopping and thoroughly bipartisan that it ought to discourage any veto.

But the governor has been busy with his veto pen this session and we’re taking nothing for granted.

A week ago, we switched over to getting postcards urging Governor Henry to sign the bills. Oklahomans for Initiative Rights continues to visit more cities (63 thus far) and grab more news coverage. The 10-foot tall state replica is concentrating on the Tulsa and Oklahoma City metro areas for the remainder of the campaign. Oklahomans for Responsible Government is beginning an effort asking thousands of Oklahomans to call the governor’s office. A number of prominent supporters have sent or are sending op-ed columns urging the governor to sign the reform legislation passed by legislators.

Already this session, the constitutional amendment, SJR-13, that lowers the signature requirement passed the legislature. It awaits a popular vote next year.

Now two important statutory reforms inch closer to enactment. Once the bills reach the his desk, Governor Henry will have 5 days to sign. So, this week and next will tell the tale for Oklahoma this year.

As for Colorado, California, Missouri, Nevada, etc., well, the fight goes on.