Line-item veto repeal
stalls in House

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By Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.com

The 19 House Republicans are claiming victory over the defeat of a bill that would have repealed the governor's line-item veto power, as provided by the state Constitution.

The House recommitted the bill yesterday after the Democrats realized they did not have the votes to pass it.

"The Democrats knew that without the GOP House members, they didn't have the two-thirds votes needed to amend the Constitution," said House Minority Leader Galen Fox (R, Waikiki).

"And facing certain defeat, they withdrew their troops," Fox said.

Republicans said 46 state governors, including Hawaii's, use the line-item veto to control government expenditures, and Hawaii needs to protect this power. It is an important budget tool that gives the governor the power to ferret out specific appropriations and eliminate them, Fox said.

House Majority Leader Marcus Oshiro (D, Wahiawa) said the bill was recommitted because, after discussion with the governor, Democrats felt it wasn't necessary.

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