Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2008 > January > 28 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLegislature heads for the first veto override in 34 years
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Senate Rules Committee just gave approval to overriding Gov. Sonny Perdue’s veto of H.B. 529, which now heads to the Senate floor for an immediate vote.
The rules committee recommended passage of the override. Which means it’s a done deal.
The House had sent the Senate 12 bills — so this is a significant reduction. Regardless, this is history — the first veto override in 34 years.
H.B. 529 inserts the existence of a Senate Budget Office into the Georgia Code. Right now, separate House and Senate budget writers work separately under a kind of gentleman’s agreement. H.B. 529 gives the Senate’s budget writing operation legal existence.
The Senate really has no choice on this one. The House pretty much had boxed them in. Had the Senate rejected this bill, senators knew they would never get House approval for the language again.
Senate Rules Chairman Don Balfour says the other 11 House overrides could still be considered. Asked if that depended on House action later in the session, Balfour said, “You’re warm.”
Comments
By that_guy
January 28, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
Perhaps he said, “You’re warm.”
By RJ
January 28, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
The substance of this delayed override, which is definitely a rebuke of Perdue, does not speak kindly of the quality of the Senate’s leadership. Upholding and protecting the will of the people (the state constitution) is not only a noble aim,it is the duty of every elected official. This override is clearly aimed at serving the interest of the current leadership. What a missed opportunity and what an damning statement!
By RJ
January 29, 2008 12:24 AM | Link to this
Upon reflection, this override codifies more more government, which is antithetical to the Republican mantra. Why can’t this Republican controlled General Assembly get by with one budget office just like the Democrats did? How much is it costing us tax payers to have two separate budget offices?
There are other reasons too why this is not a smart override.