Case Information
*1 OFFICE OF THE AlTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS AUSTIN
Hozorabls Omer Burkett, Chairman
Ccmmlttes on Federal r\clatlone
House of Repreaentativra
Austin, Tsras
Dear Ylrt
et4 ths ridare on lslon 0 vet0 pOw4r 0r th4 OOV~S~~OF is r0abd this 3tate.
" Ii any ball prosonto to thea Govar- ftsrUS of 4ppr3pri4tiOn hs nor &t&.&3 ~ovoral and ap- may ob jeat on4 or mm4 or such item, pxov6 the other portion of the bill. In suah
373 gooorable Ghwr Burkett, CheIrmaa, Pago 8
Case he shall append to the bill, at the time of aigm%ng It, a statement 0r the Itwis to which he objects, and no itsm 60 objeoteA to shall take srr4ot. . . .-
The Go~4rnorts power under the Constitution with reference to an appropriation bill is Aesaribed by l4r. ruetioe Dibrsll, apeaking; ior the Supreme Court al Teralr, In Fulmorr 7. ~0, io4 mu. 499, 140 s, w. 408, a6 r0ibf8i
qowhere In the Constitution 14) the author- Ity given the Gowrnor to apprQWb fn part aad dieapprove In put a bill. The only additional authority to Qlrapproring the bill In whole Ia that glvoa to objeot to nn ita iten whaze a bill aontalaa sovera oi appropr atian. i Iteu It follows eenolurivel~ that where the veto power
is ettempted to be l xeroloed to obfeot to e para- gra h or portion Qi' a bill other th8n UL Item or f tema, or to lmgwg4 qwirying ai 'jappropria- tlon or direotlng the method of it8,uses, he u- oeda the Oonatitutlonal authority recrted In him, ~6~~:ebJ~~"~~~g~~*~~~~~;~~ &f:z:: tlca, or ciire0tIn(: the nothod of its we, beotxmr non4rteotire. . . .
” If o bill pas8eA by the Legislature cumta&*rs;~.xal 1tomal 0r appr0priation, the Governor Is authorized object to [084] or more or rush ltem6, atid rruch Item or Itcmu 80 obfeoted to shall not beooaa a part oi the law, unles6 the Legislature bo in seadon end mOh Item or to be reaonsldered and apprOY4d items objeoted by two-thirds of the m&mzs 0f both HouOes, . . . r Ho partfoular Sow, or method, or verbiage, Ir :mquIreA to conrrtltute an item of appropriation. A prori- &#&.In e+ appropriation bill whloh dael not lI& poaitfsns or otitain speaffied Items 5ey none the 14~4s be sulrioiant BI an Item of appropriation. It mar oonetitute a suifioiont appropriation although It doe6 not n&me a oetiain sum or a naximllm sum. 8ational sisoult C~mgenp vs. State, 135 9. W.
(al) 387.
Honorable Oaar Burkett, Chairmen, L’age 5
&a Item of appropriation Bhould not, .?f oour~m,, be aonfueed with provisions Iu an appropriation bill whioh quall- ry an appropriation or direct the ae%hod of Ite wage.
Typloal ot the rI8er8 to vdiloh you refer In mu.?
letter IO o&4 which reada aa iollowsr
*In addltlon to t&e muma hereInabove appro- priated out or reoelpta aocruing under Artlole 603R, Revi44d Olvil Statute@, lQR5, anb any amwd- mants thereto, thers Is hereby appropriated fram said receipts, for the eniorcrement or the Oil and Gas Conservation and Regulation laws, inolad- in6 salaries, travel and other neeemrary expeamea, a mu8 not to 8XO4eb 0n0-ha12 ($1 or such fee8 aoorulng each fisOa1 year over and abole the to- tal ltomleed appoprlatI0a for the respeatlve year8 .*
It Is our opinion that a rfder OS this time eon- an Item of appropriation with&n the pumlew of 8tituter $eetion 14 utiole Iv or th8 Coolrtltutton of Teraa md ia rubjeat to the veto power or the Chler Sxerutive.
Yours very trot