Henry not in talks, is disappointed

BYLINE: BARBARA HOBEROCK World Capitol Bureau

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Gov. Brad Henry on Monday said he was disappointed that he was excluded in budget negotiations with lawmakers. / Lawmakers on Monday announced a nearly $7 billion budget agreement. / Henry finds himself in a similar position that Senate Co-President Pro Tem Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater, found himself in last session when Henry forged ahead with then House Speaker Todd Hiett, R-Kellyville, in an effort to get a budget agreement, which only came after a special session.

/ Henry, who prides himself on bipartisanship, said he was disappointed legislative leaders excluded his office and a majority of lawmakers from the private discussions leading up to the agreement and spending of nearly every dollar in the treasury. / "I've found the appropriations process works in a much more efficient and effective manner when the executive and legislative branches work together to develop a budget, just as we have in previous years during my tenure as governor," Henry said in a press release. / Essentially three or four legislators and their staff decided how to spend $7 billion, Henry said. / "Without any preliminary discussion or negotiations, their ideas are being presented to the 149-member Legislature and the Governor's Office for approval," Henry said. "That kind of exclusive, closed-door process doesn't always produce the best ideas and results." / Henry said he hadn't seen the budget details and wasn't sure how he would act. / "When confronted with similar situations in the past, previous governors, namely Gov. Frank Keating, have opted to veto general appropriations legislation rather than endorse a flawed spending process," Henry said. / The state Senate is evenly split with 24 Democrats and 24 Republicans. The House is in Republican control. Henry, a Democrat, is a former state senator. / Senate Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee, R-Oklahoma City, took issue with statements that Henry had been excluded from the process, as did House Speaker Lance Cargill, R-Harrah. / Coffee said Morgan's office has given budget details to Henry's staff. / State Treasurer Scott Meacham, one of Henry's closest advisers, said that last Tuesday he got a verbal description from Morgan's office as to what had been agreed to, which is not the same as being included in the process. / Morgan said he is well aware of Henry's priorities, adding that the programs which are important to Henry, whom he called a dear friend, will get a fair hearing in the Legislature. / Coffee said Henry never asked to be involved in the talks. / "I have not received one phone call from the governor," Coffee said. "I have not spoken with the governor or had any request by him to be involved. We would have been willing to talk to him. For him to say he has tried to force his way into it is simply not accurate." / Cargill said he likewise received no communication from Henry's office. / Cargill said that following Henry's State of the State ad dress, he offered to host weekly leadership meetings in his office or at a location of Henry's choice. / Henry declined, Cargill said. / "We are open to the governor's proposals and ideas this session," Cargill said. "To suggest he has been systematically excluded from negotiations on public policy in this state is just not accurate." / Meacham said Cargill mischaracterized what happened. / Henry did not decline his offer, but felt smaller meetings on specific issues were more appropriate, adding that in larger meetings time was wasted due to political posturing. / Henry told Cargill it was up to the speaker, adding that Henry never got a response back, Meacham said. / Henry also said he was disappointed legislative leaders rolled emergency and regular spending into one spending bill. / "By lumping $7 billion in spending into a single bill, legislative leaders have stifled debate about individual budget items and forced lawmakers to make an all-or-nothing decision without any real input," Henry said. "Fortunately, the line-item veto provides the governor with more flexibility and discretion." / / Barbara Hoberock (405) 528-2465 / barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com /