BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Republican majority leaders want to know if GOP Gov. Doug Burgum exceeded his authority on some vetoes he issued after the Legislature adjourned last month.
House Majority Leader Al Carlson and his Senate counterpart, Rich Wardner, requested an attorney general’s opinion on Wednesday.
The state Constitution gives the governor “line-item” veto authority on spending measures. The leaders question whether the governor can veto a part of a sentence in appropriation bills that changes legislative intent.
The Legislative Council, which is the Legislature’s research arm, says several of Burgum’s vetoes “appear” to have done that and “in effect, legislate from the executive branch.”
The governor’s office in a statement says Burgum “exercised his veto authority very thoughtfully and with great respect for the separation of powers.”
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