Gov. Fallin Blames SQ788 Authors For Her Ill-Advised Rulings

  Gov.  Fallin was quick to blame everyone except herself, for the abusive actions that she and the Oklahoma Board of Health imposed on Oklahoma citizens. She signed into force two measures which thousands of Oklahomans immediately called for her to reject. Her words included;

​ "It is unfortunate there was not more consideration given by proponents of SQ 788 as to how challenging it is to place such a quick turnaround on a very complicated subject. "
​- Gov. Fallin

 In light of her office's full knowledge of all these things, she still knowingly signed into effect all three resolutions from the OBH. Now she agrees that two of them are  completely unacceptable, and she's not certain what else is. Never mind that AG Mike Hunter told all of us, today, that at least 8 rules are out of compliance with constitutional limitations for agencies to impose, because they go beyond the scope of the statute which informs them.

Related Stories:

• Board of Health Calling Special Emergency Meeting To Amend Marijuana Rules
• AG Says Board of Health Overstepped Authority
• ​Republican Party Leaders: "The Voters' Will Must Be Respected"

---

  In the end she decided that the foremost reason for revising the enacted rules has nothing to do with the Attorney General's legal opinion. To her its the unwritten rule that the public should have time and opportunity to comment on and present ideas on a proposed set of new agency rules.

This latest blunder and Fallin's headlong rush to sign a set of rules which had so many obvious flaws, just further damages her own Republican party which is seeking to distance themselves from her.
  Monday the two chairman of the Republican Party's two large metropolitan counties openly chastised her and the Board of Health for failures to respect the vote of the people and the statutory power of the people to enact laws when she and the legislature fail to be in step with the voters.
​“The ‘we know better attitude’ expressed by the OSBH and the shocking approval by our current Governor shows contempt for the liberties and the rights we express at the ballot box as citizens,” said Tulsa County Republican Chairman David McLain.

​  Here's her full statement:
​​  Because the public didn’t have ample time to weigh in with their concerns on the two last-minute amendments, the Board of Health should rescind them. My office has received calls and emails since last week’s board action, with most addressing those two amendments. My legal staff and I are analyzing other points made in the attorney general’s legal letter to see what other action might be necessary.
  I want Oklahomans to know that dedicated state employees are working hard to put a process in place that will provide a medical framework with public health and safety as a the main priority.
   State Question 788 was written with a 30-day implementation deadline. It is unfortunate there was not more consideration given by proponents of SQ 788 as to how challenging it is to place such a quick turnaround on a very complicated subject.
​   However, the state will carry out the responsibility of administering this law.