Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski is so far prevailing in his attempt to force lawmakers to use less of the state's reserve funds.

After a day of backroom negotiations, and several twists and turns, the Oregon Senate Wednesday successfully voted to override the governor's veto. But later in the evening, the House fell short of doing the same thing when Republicans refused to go along with majority Democrats.

House Speaker Dave Hunt accused the GOP of trying to use the situation for political gain.

Dave Hunt: “All they've been proposing thus far is, ‘You know, if you kill this bill or kill that bill or kill another bill, then we'll be willing to talk.' We're not in the business of killing legislation. We're in the business of actually passing good legislation.”

Hunt said Republicans specifically asked to put the brakes on a bill to phase out field burning in Oregon. That's up for a possible vote Thursday in the Senate.

The House could try again to override the governor's veto of the K-through-12 budget. But late Wednesday night lawmakers started moving on a revised spending plan that yields to the governor's demands.