Legislature Overrides Governor's Veto

Lawmakers threw down the gauntlet, saying they have a constitutional duty to defend their right to set the state’s $17.8 billion spending plan and decide how it should be spent. The Senate set the stage for a constitutional turf war today when it unanimously voted to override Gov. Bill Ritter’s veto of budget notes containing instructions from lawmakers on how the state’s money should be spent next year.

"It’s a separation-of-powers issue," said Senate Minority Leader Ken Gordon. "The legislature has the power of the purse. We decide how much money goes to each department. We’re framing the issue for court case." Following the lead of previous governors, Ritter vetoed what are commonly known as 88 head notes and footnotes attached to the budget by lawmakers.

Moments after the Senate's vote, Ritter walked into the Senate chambers to greet lawmakers and a group of East High School Constitutional Scholar competition winners. In an equally surreal final day moment, a jovial Ritter entered the House chamber and began shaking lawmakers’ hands just as the clerk was annnoucing the Senate override of his veto.

The House is expected to vote on whether to override this afternoon.

Rocky Mountain News