Veto sets stage for renewed battle over school consolidation law
Bangor Daily News, April 9, 2008
(excerpt) The governor’s veto of the changes to the school consolidation law on Monday and the quick vote in the Senate that sustained that veto have left some in Augusta and beyond scratching their heads. It also has set the stage for another battle over changes to the law as the legislative session winds down.
"I fully expected the governor’s veto," said state Rep. Rob Eaton, D-Sullivan. "What I didn’t expect was the large turnaround in the Senate and the number of people who had voted in support of the bill who suddenly switched and voted to uphold the veto. That was significant."
Earlier Monday, the Senate had voted 21-14 in support of the bill, LD 1932, which contained amendments proposed by Gov. John Baldacci’s administration as well as changes added by the Legislature during the past three months. When the governor vetoed the bill, the Senate quickly voted to sustain that veto with just 12 senators voting to override the veto.
"It’s like a complete flip," said Lawrence "Skip" Greenlaw, chairman of the Maine Coalition to Save Schools, which has worked since fall to repeal the consolidation law. "I thought I understood the legislative process. But I just don’t understand this."
(excerpt) The governor’s veto of the changes to the school consolidation law on Monday and the quick vote in the Senate that sustained that veto have left some in Augusta and beyond scratching their heads. It also has set the stage for another battle over changes to the law as the legislative session winds down.
"I fully expected the governor’s veto," said state Rep. Rob Eaton, D-Sullivan. "What I didn’t expect was the large turnaround in the Senate and the number of people who had voted in support of the bill who suddenly switched and voted to uphold the veto. That was significant."
Earlier Monday, the Senate had voted 21-14 in support of the bill, LD 1932, which contained amendments proposed by Gov. John Baldacci’s administration as well as changes added by the Legislature during the past three months. When the governor vetoed the bill, the Senate quickly voted to sustain that veto with just 12 senators voting to override the veto.
"It’s like a complete flip," said Lawrence "Skip" Greenlaw, chairman of the Maine Coalition to Save Schools, which has worked since fall to repeal the consolidation law. "I thought I understood the legislative process. But I just don’t understand this."
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