Lawsuit’s dismissal upheld; more to come from Oklahoma Supreme Court on turnpike
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The Oklahoma Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit challenging a turnpike extension plan while it weighs whether initial bonds to finance the $5 billion, 15-year project are valid.
In related to the project over concerns about its access to the municipal bond market in the wake of ongoing litigation and an investigative audit of the agency ordered by the state attorney general.
Meanwhile, Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed the only OTA-related reform legislation to make it to his desk.
The bill, which was passed with veto-proof majorities in both chambers, would strip the governor of his sole ability to appoint the six-member OTA board of directors, giving two appointments each to the governor, House speaker, and Senate president pro tempore. It also would reduce new board members’ terms to six years from eight years, allow for a member’s removal for cause, and prohibit members from voting on any issue in which they have a direct financial interest.
In his May 19 veto message, Stitt said the bill would “codify legislative superiority and control over the operation of an executive branch agency and would enable the legislature to exercise unconstitutionally coercive influence over the executive department.”
He added it would also subject the OTA’s makeup and decisions to “legitimate legal challenges.”
