Oklahoma Governor Vetoes Bill With Agency Head Raises

Gov. Mary Fallin has vetoed a bill that would have given the director of the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation more power to set his top executives' salaries.

The bill that passed in the waning days of the legislative session also would have removed the salary caps for director salaries at the Board of Dentistry, Board of Nursing, Teachers' Retirement System and State Banking Department. 

The cap for the OTRS director is currently $116,500, while the head of the Banking Department can earn up to $137,200. Altogether, the bill would have removed the limits on nearly $650,000 in salaries. 

In her veto message, Fallin says there are state employees at all agencies that deserve raises and the bill "does not constitute good public policy."