Gov. Stitt defends controversial immigration bill, veto of domestic violence bill

Gov. Kevin Stitt focused on two pieces of legislation at his news conference wrapping up the week on Friday. One was a border security bill he signed in spite of widespread criticism. The other was a domestic violence bill he vetoed -- also to criticism. The Senate overrode his veto, and House response is pending.

Stitt recently signed a controversial new bill into law that would allow local and state law enforcement officials to remove undocumented immigrants from Oklahoma. The bill had passed the House and Senate by wide margins, but critics said border enforcement was the federal government's job and that the law could lead to racial profiling.

Earlier in the week Oklahoma City Police Chief Wade Gourley told a local television station his department was "pretty much caught off guard" by passage of the bill and unclear about expectations as to how the law should be enforced.

But Stitt said, "I think we can all agree. We have to have secure borders, and this puts more tools in the tool belts of law enforcement."

Here are other takeaways from the governor's news conference:

On domestic violence: Stitt explains veto on Oklahoma Survivors' Act

Stitt vetoed a bill known as the Oklahoma Survivors’ Act, written to help survivors of domestic violence, and the Senate promptly voted 46-1 to override the veto. The House has yet to act on the bill.

The bill allows courts to consider as a mitigating factor in sentencing evidence that persons convicted of a crime have been abused physically, sexually, or psychologically by the person’s sexual partner, family members, members of the household or others.

More: Stitt backs away from .25 personal income tax cut; calls for 'flattening' of income tax brackets

Stitt said the bill, as written, was "bad policy." He said work was underway on a better bill that would accomplish the objective of protecting domestic violence victims.

On the continued calls for a state income tax cut

Stitt repeated his support for a state income tax cut.

He said his new plan is, "let's just leave the top tax bracket where it is at 4.75 and then let's do away with all the bottom brackets. That would help the poorest Oklahomans. In other words, every Oklahoman that makes less than $27,100 would pay no taxes."

Inflation, Stitt said, was in effect cutting everybody's pay. "Let's do something for people who are hurting," he said.

On disaster relief for Oklahoma tornado damage

The governor complimented the legislature for setting aside $45 million for disaster relief. He said a total damage estimate was not yet available, but that the Department of Emergency Management was gathering information for a report to the federal government.

Stitt said he and President Joe Biden had talked on the phone Sunday and, "we've got a great relationship. "This passes through all politics, and they just really want to help Oklahoma right now."

On Oklahoma's 'blacklist' law for companies critical of oil and gas

Stitt said he was disappointed by a district court judge's decision to halt — at least temporarily — a state law that places banks and financial companies on a blacklist if they invest in entities critical of the oil and gas industry. Under the law, those blacklisted companies are prevented from doing business with the state.

Stitt said he disagreed with Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who fired the attorney representing the state in the case, Cheryl Plaxico. He said she was "the very best."

"As to the merits of the bill, I don't know how anybody could argue with that." Stitt said. "We're not going to let companies come into Oklahoma and attack our oil and gas industry."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt defends immigration bill