Court: Governor was wrong about veto opportunity; 65 bills are now law
Maine Gov. Paul LePage will implement 65 laws he intended to block after the state’s top court ruled against his veto views in an advisory opinion, according to a spokeswoman.
The Republican governor believed a 10-day limit to sign or veto bills didn’t apply during a period this summer, between June 30 and July 16, when the legislature had temporarily adjourned. But the Maine Supreme Judicial Court said the legislature determines when it is in session, and the 65 bills he tried to veto when lawmakers reconvened are now law. How Appealing links to the Aug 6 opinion (PDF) and coverage by the Portland Press Herald, Reuters and the Associated Press.
The court also noted that, for nearly 40 years, Maine governors have routinely returned bills with vetoes to lawmakers during temporary absences of the legislature, and lawmakers reconvened to address objections.
The unanimous court said it had the authority to respond to LePage’s inquiry because the issue involved overlapping authority of the branches of government. One justice did not participate in the decision.
Among the bills LePage had intended to veto was legislation allowing immigrants seeking asylum to receive municipal welfare benefits.
LePage had indicated before the ruling that he would wage more legal battles to block the laws, but his spokeswoman, Adrienne Bennett, told the Portland Press Herald he would implement the laws as a result of the court’s opinion.
Related article:
ABAJournal.com: “Did Maine governor flub pocket veto? Misstep will allow 19 bills to become law, Democrats say”
