House will not call for special veto override session

House Speaker Calvin Say. Courtesy Image, State of Hawaii.

State House Speaker Calvin Say announced today that he would not call for a special session to override Governor Linda Lingle’s vetoes. 

On June 21, 2010, the Governor released to the Legislature a list of 39 bills that were intended for veto.  The list included bills on public safety, civil unions, homelessness, and education.

The state constitution authorizes the Legislature to convene a special session by noon 45 days following the end of the regular session, or the final day that the Governor has to veto any previously passed bills.

House leaders cited four considerations for their decision to override the Governor’s vetoes including:

• The bill does not appear to have the requisite two-thirds vote in both chambers necessary to override a veto;
• The bill does not rise to a sufficient level of statewide concern to warrant the extraordinary action of a legislative override;
• The Governor’s preliminary objections to the bill have sufficient merit deserving of further evaluation;
• Although the bill was intended to enhance state revenue to balance the budget when passed during the session, it is now no longer necessary because of the Council on Revenue’s improved revenue projection.

“It’s my personal belief that simply because we have the legislative super-majority to override is not justification for us to do so.  Partisan politics should not be a consideration or basis for any policy decision,” said Say.  “The House should be proud of the work accomplished during the regular session-including balancing the state’s budget without increasing the general excise tax, without increasing income taxes on low- and moderate-income families, and without scooping the counties’ hotel tax share,” said Say.

(Placeholder image courtesy:  State of Hawaii, legislative branch)