DEMOCRATS URGE VETO OVERRIDE

Lawmakers must reconvene to respond to line-item veto

AUGUSTA—Senate and House Democratic leadership issued a letter to their Republican counterparts requesting the Republican caucus join Democrats in reconvening the Legislature to consider and respond to Governor LePage’s line-item veto of the supplemental budget.

The Legislature adjourned in the early hours of Saturday, April 14 with the order to return to session on May 15, 2012. According to the state Constitution, the Legislature can only reconvene before May 15 with either the consent of a majority of the members of each political party or at the request of the Governor.

“The Legislature has a constitutional responsibility to convene, consider, and respond to the Governor’s line-item veto,” said Senate Democratic Leader Barry Hobbins of Saco.

The Legislature passed the state’s supplemental budget, LD 1903, with resounding bipartisan support on Friday, April 13. The Senate voted unanimously 35—0 in favor of the budget with the House voting 105—30.

“Democrats are ready to return to support this bipartisan budget,” said Emily Cain, D-Orono, the House Democratic leader. “Democrats and Republicans negotiated this budget together, it passed with overwhelming support from both parties, and we must stand by that good work.”

On Saturday, the Governor issued a line-item veto pertaining to General Assistance and to reimbursements to psychiatric hospitals known as “disproportionate share” funding. To date, the line-item veto has never been used and therefore no prior legislative precedent exists.

Hobbins, a practicing lawyer of 34 years, added, “The Legislature is in a unique position of being the first to address a line-item veto. If the Legislature does not reconvene and address the veto, it would set a dangerous precedent of undermining the separation of power between the Executive and the Legislative branches.”

The Legislature has within five days from the date of the veto to reconvene and address the Governor’s actions. A line-item veto can be overridden with a majority vote. Legislative rules indicate that if lawmakers do not reconvene, the Governor’s veto will be upheld.

Letter to Presiding officers requesting legislative action