Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion

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 theaGovar- nor &t&.&3 ~ovoral ftsrUS of 4ppr3pri4tiOn hs may ob jeat to on4 or mm4 or such item, and ap- 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 Constitutionwith referenceto an appropriationbill 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 dieapproveIn put a bill. The only additional authority to Qlrapproringthe bill In whole Ia that glvoa to objeot to nn ita or iten whaze a bill aontalaa sovera Iteu oi appropriatian. It follows eenolurivel~that where the veto power is ettempted to be lxeroloed 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 direotlngthe method of it8,uses, he u- oeda the Oonatitutlonalauthority 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 1tomal0r appr0priation,the Governor Is authorizedto object to 084 or more or rush ltem6, atidrruchItem or Itcmu 80 obfeoted to shall not beooaa a part oi the law, unles6 the Legislature bo in seadon end mOh Item or items objeoted to be reaonslderedand apprOY4d 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+ appropriationbill 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 appropriationalthough It doe6 not n&me a oetiain sum or a naximllmsum. 8ational sisoult C~mgenp vs. State, 135 9. W. (al) 387. Honorable Oaar Burkett, Chairmen, L’age 5 &a Item of appropriationBhould not,.?foour~m,,be aonfueedwith provisionsIu an appropriationbill whioh quall- ry an appropriationor direct the ae%hod of Ite wage. Typloal ot the rI8er8 to vdilohyou refer In mu.? letter IO o&4 which reada aa iollowsr *In addltlon to t&e muma hereInaboveappro- priated out or reoelpta aocruingunder Artlole 603R, Revi44d Olvil Statute@, lQR5, anb any amwd- mants thereto, thers Is hereby appropriatedfram said receipts, for the eniorcrement or the Oil and Gas Conservationand 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 opinionthat a rfder OS this time eon- 8tituteran Item of appropriation with&n the pumlew of $eetion14 or utiole Iv or th8 Coolrtltutton of Teraa md ia rubjeatto the veto power or the Chler Sxerutive. Yours very trot