Lawmakers Override Gov. Stitt's Veto, Extend OETA Contract

Lawmakers are using the final days of the legislative session to override Gov. Kevin Stitt’s vetoes. One of the vetoes: to extend the contract for OETA to continue operating until 2026.

Thursday, May 25th 2023, 4:05 pm

By: Haley Weger

Lawmakers are using the final days of the legislative session to override Gov. Kevin Stitt’s vetoes. One of the vetoes: to extend the contract for OETA to continue operating until 2026.

The override ensures that the continuation of the only public TV station in Oklahoma, which was a big goal of the state legislature this year.

Both the Oklahoma House and Senate decided to override the governor’s veto for the OETA bill on Thursday. A bipartisan effort in both chambers.

The governor vetoed the House bill that would continue funding OETA earlier this month.

Stitt called OETA an outdated system saying, “I don’t think Oklahomans want to use their tax dollars to indoctrinate kids."

The governor’s office sent News 9 a list of shows that Stitt deemed “inappropriate content,” including an episode of “Clifford the Big Red Dog” that featured the topic of gay marriage.

Haley Weger

Haley Weger joined the News 9 team as a multi-media journalist in August 2022. She came to OKC from Lake Charles, Louisiana. Haley began her career as a producer and multi-media reporter and then transitioned to a morning anchor position. While she was in Louisiana, Haley covered an array of news topics, and covered multiple hurricanes on the coast.