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Stitt Responds To Fellow Republicans Who Say He Acted Unlawfully On Gaming Compacts

Rep. Charles McCall (R-Atoka), Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and Sen. Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City), President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, both said that Governor Kevin Stitt acted unlawfully.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt responded Friday to charges leveled by Republican leaders in the state legislature that recent gaming compacts signed between the state and two tribal governments were unlawful.

In a letter to Rep. Charles McCall (R-Atoka), Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and Sen. Greg Treat (R-Oklahoma City), President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma Senate, Stitt said that his office's general counsel had concluded he acted within his authority by signing compacts, which include provisions for sports betting, with the governments of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Comanche Nation.

"Contrary to the position expressed in your letter," Stitt's response reads, "this constitutional authority vests solely in the Office of the Governor."

The Thursday letter from McCall and Treat alleged that the combacts were "unauthorized by law and void without action by the Oklahoma Legislature."

Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, another Republican, also expressed concern with Stitt's actions, saying the compacts are not authorized under Oklahoma law.

The full letter to Stitt from McCall and Treat is available to read here. Stitt's response is available here.

Chris joined Public Radio Tulsa as a news anchor and reporter in April 2020. He’s a graduate of Hunter College and the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, both at the City University of New York.
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