Despite Veto, Okla. Senate Vows to Send Work Comp Law to Voters

The Oklahoma State Senate has passed a referendum that would allow Oklahomans to vote next year on a proposal to require Senate approval of the governor’s workers’ compensation judicial nominees.

The Senate took the action after Gov. Brad Henry vetoed Senate Bill 609, which he said “would have modeled Oklahoma’s judicial selection process after the highly partisan system in Washington, D.C., and reduced the number of judges on the workers compensation court from 10 to eight.” The bill would have required Senate approval of workers’ comp judicial nominees.

In an announcement released by Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn Coffee, the Senate leader said legislators “are disappointed in the governor’s veto, because we’ve worked very hard to bring responsible reform and increased accountability to the Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system. Contrary to what the governor said, this legislation removes the politics from the process, and we look forward to sending this to the people for them to have the final say.”

The Senate referendum, HJR 1041, mirrors the provisions in SB 609, yet sends the legislation as a referendum to the vote of the people. The Senate said numerous other states have systems requiring Senate confirmation.

In announcing the veto, Gov. Henry stated: “SB 609 seeks to replace the successful, non-partisan appointment process of Oklahoma with the gridlocked, highly politicized process of Washington, D.C., where partisan disputes in the Senate often delay judicial appointments and hinder the delivery of swift and effective justice. In the workers compensation system, such delays will ultimately cause undue expense and burden on injured workers and Oklahoma businesses alike.”

Additionally, the governor said SB 609 was unconstitutional because it impermissibly eliminated two judges from the court in the middle of their terms.

Source: Oklahoma Senate, Oklahoma Governor’s Office

Topics Workers' Compensation Oklahoma Politics