Henry recently used his veto power for the first time to scrap most of the Republican-fashioned budget for 2008, and has people wondering if he will use it again.

During last year's gubernatorial campaign, Henry worked hard to portray himself as vigilant on illegal immigration. However, he has fueled the current drama by being conspicuously silent on the issue of late.

"He might very well veto the bill," said Rep. Paul Wesselhoft, R-Moore.?"We don't know because he hasn't made very many public statements on the issue, so it is hard to tell what he is going to do."

Wesselhoft said one of Henry's talents is that he has been a moderate governor and hasn't blindly championed every Democratic issue or demonized every Republican issue.

Rep. Richard Morrissette, D-Oklahoma City, who opposes HB 1804, likened the immigration bill to a train that has left the station and is speeding along the tracks out of control.

"There is a chance that the governor might stop it," Morrissette said. "That's our only hope left."

Rep. Bill Nations, D-Norman, said emotions are high on the issue right now and judgment is clouded.?

"It is so emotional right now," Nations said. "And when that happens, cooler heads rarely prevail. Usually we overreact."

Rep. Wallace Collins, D-Norman, echoed the Democratic mantra, lamenting that the ball will soon be in the governor's court. Immigration, Collins said, should be dealt with at the federal level, not at the state.

"I think this bill is onerous in a lot of respects, but the bottom line is that this is a failing of the federal government," Collins said.?"President Bush and the federal government have failed this country, and now states like Oklahoma are trying to rectify the situation in a patchwork manner.?That's not going to work. It's going to have to be solved at the federal level."

Terrill agreed that the federal government has dropped the ball, but said it is now up to the states to pick it up and run with it.

"Our federal government hasn't stopped illegal immigration," Terrill said.? "So it's up to us to lead the way."

HB 1804 has been characterized as racially insensitive by opponents and hailed as the nation's best reform bill by supporters. What both sides agree on is that its repercussions will be far-reaching. All eyes will soon be on Henry to see if he signs the bill or if he reaches for his veto pen.

Dallas Tupper is a senior journalism student at the University of Oklahoma.