Beebe vetoes bill on redistricting costs
By Arkansas Online Press Services
This article was published March 1, 2010 at 1:47 p.m.
PHOTO BY TO BE ASSIGNED
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STEVE KEESEE 2/8/10 Gov. Mike Beebe speaking to the legislators at the state Capitol for the start of the first fiscal session Monday.
Gov. Mike Beebe on Monday vetoed a bill that would have taken $1.6 million from the Central Services Fund to cover legislative redistricting costs, saying such a measure was "inconsistent with the spirit of fiscal responsibility."
The General Assembly concluded its first fiscal session ever Thursday, but Beebe and legislators never came to an agreement on how to pay for redistricting.
Beebe wanted the money to come from pet projects, but the budget committee, led by Rep. Curren Everett, D-Salem, amended the bill so that it comes from the state’s Central Services Fund. That fund finances courts, constitutional offices and other state offices.
Beebe's letter accompanying the veto reads as follows.
Dear Mr. President Pro Tempore and Members of the Senate:
In accordance with Article 6, Section 15 of the Arkansas Constitution, I write to notify you that today I vetoed Senate Bill SB130. I write further to explain the reason for my action.
There was much discussion before and during this first fiscal session about setting precedents. I believe that we cannot, in good conscience, set a precedent of taking funding from a tenuous source, such as the State Central Services Fund, in order to protect local projects.
As you know, the State Central Services Fund supports the core functions of our government, and if it falls short of funding, the needed money is drawn from the rest of our revenue, essentially creating an automatic budget cut for other state services.
I believe that putting the State in such a position is inconsistent with the spirit of fiscal responsibility that typically places Arkansas in such good stead as compared to most of our sister states.
My office is working with the Secretary of State's office to determine what, if anything, can be done this year regarding the Board of Apportionment.
Sincerely,
Mike Beebe
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
Thank you for coming to the Web site of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. We're working to keep you informed with the latest breaking news.
Information for this article was contributed by Seth Blomeley and Michael R. Wickline of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and The Associated Press.
Comments on: Beebe vetoes bill on redistricting costs
To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Read our Terms of Use policy.
You must login to make comments.