OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has vetoed legislation designating Oklahoma Native American Day on the same day the state observes Columbus Day.
The bill , which received bipartisan support in the state House and Senate, would have created a second holiday observance alongside Columbus Day on the second Monday in October by moving Native American Day, which is observed in November, ahead one month to correspond with Columbus Day.
In her veto message last week, Fallin said combining Native American Day with Columbus Day “could be viewed as an intentional attempt to diminish” support for Native American Heritage Month in November and Oklahoma Native American Day on the third Monday in November.
The Cherokee Nation, which created its own Native American Day on the second Monday in October, strongly supported the bill.
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