Thu Jun 17, 2010 at 03:51:58 PM EDT
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We're coming down to the deadline in the budget negotiations and the fate of the SCI appears to remain in the balance:Now, however, the SCI is in peril again. To merge the investigative agencies, Gov. Christie would need legislative approval, which he is unlikely to get.
But he could defund the SCI, and if the Legislature tried to restore its budget, he could cast a line-item veto that would require a two-thirds majority in both the Senate and Assembly to override.
That means some Republicans in each house would have to brave their governor's wrath and join Democrats in the override vote. My understanding is that the Democrats submitted for full restoration of the SCI as a budget resolution, so now it's part of negotiations. If the negotiations fail and the funding isn't restored, the story reminds us that the Legislature still holds the power to override the Governor, but Republicans will need to come on board. This is just the latest attempt to neuter the SCI as Republicans tried the effort during the Whitman administration. We've written plenty here about the excellent work done by the SCI. The benefits far outweigh any costs to the state and it's time GOP Legislatures stand up to this power grab by their Governor. If they don't, they can stop complaining about corruption and waste in government, because they're complicit in allowing it to continue. |
| Jason Springer :: Will the GOP stand up to protect the SCI or be complicit in its eliminiation? |
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