Oklahoma Senate Votes To Override Tribal Compact Vetoes

Oklahoma lawmakers met at the state capitol Monday morning for a special session to decide whether or not to override the governor’s vetoes on two bills dealing with tribal compacts.

The compacts will determine how the state and tribes share revenue from taxes on tobacco sales, and motor vehicles.

The Senate voted 34-7 on both compacts

RELATED: Oklahoma Lawmakers Return To Capitol For Special Session On Tribal Compacts

Gov. Kevin Stitt said he had asked senators to vote no on the override.

Senators had previously attempted to override the veto in June, but came one vote too short.

At the time, Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat said that multiple senators that were planning to vote yes on the override were out of town that day.

Treat also said millions in revenue, and the relationship between tribes and the state is on the line.

The responsibility now sits with the Oklahoma House of Representatives, who will come back on July 31 to vote on the override.

Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. released the following statement after the override of the vetoes:

“Today is a great step forward in preserving carefully negotiated compact agreements that have served both Oklahoma and Cherokee Nation well for decades. The bipartisan supermajority of Senators who voted to extend our tribal-state compacts, overriding the Governor’s veto, also saw this need, and I thank them for their support. This vote shows once again that the Governor is isolated in his choice of conflict over cooperation with tribes. Cherokee Nation is ready to continue working with any and all good-faith partners in the state who respect our sovereignty. I urge the Oklahoma House to return swiftly to complete the veto overrides. They can quickly end the troubling uncertainty these vetoes have caused for Oklahoma citizens and businesses.”

Gov. Stitt also released the following statement in response:

"Despite real concerns for the future of our state, the Senate has chosen to disregard the Governor's compact in favor of compact language the tribes wanted. I am trying to protect eastern Oklahoma from turning into a reservation, and I've been working to ensure these compacts are the best deal for all four million Oklahomans. Unfortunately, the Senate seems to disagree and used an illegitimate process to do so.”