Governor Andy Beshear (D-KY) had promised all along that he was going to veto the bills limiting his ’emergency’ authority under KRS 39A; I wonder why it took him so long. Perhaps he thought that with the inauguration tomorrow dominating the news, people wouldn’t notice his vetoes?
Beshear vetoes five bills limiting his power. Republicans likely to override him.
By Daniel Desrochers | January 19, 2021 | 5:42 PM EST | Updated: 5:57 PM EST
Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed five pieces of legislation Tuesday that attempted to limit his executive powers, saying they would “significantly hamper the important steps” he has taken to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Beshear vetoed House Bill 1, Senate Bill 1, Senate Bill 2 and House Bill 5, all of which would shift power from the executive branch to the legislative branch when dealing with emergencies, such as the coronavirus pandemic. He also vetoed House Bill 2, which would give the Attorney General authority over enforcement of abortion laws.
“Issuing a veto is my constitutional obligation as governor,” Beshear said. “And it’s my job to issue those vetoes with veto statements when I don’t think something is constitutional, when I think something will harm Kentuckians.
Citing a poll conducted by a consortium of universities and medical schools, Beshear claimed an overwhelming majority of Kentuckians supported his previous orders calling on people to stay home and avoid gathering in groups, limiting restaurants to takeout and shutting down K-12 schools to in-person classes.
Governor Andy Beshear (D-KY)
As we’ve previously noted, Republicans hold not only veto proof majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, but those margins are so substantial that the GOP could lose several Republican votes and still override the Governor’s vetoes.
Mr Beshear has said that, if his vetoes are overridden, he will challenge the laws in court. Authoritarians don’t like their authority challenged!
Beshear also vetoed Senate Bill 1, which, among other things, would call the legislature into session to approve emergency orders that last beyond 30 days. Had such a rule been in effect during (2020), Beshear said lawmakers would have been called into special session at least 10 times at a cost to taxpayers of more than $3 million.
Uhhh, no. What it would mean is that the legislature would have had the option of granting extensions for longer than thirty days at a pop. What the Governor really meant is that the legislature would not have approved all of his orders.
The General Assembly reconvenes on February 2nd, at which time the override votes are expected.
Perhaps, just perhaps, if the Governor had cooperated with the legislature last year, as they asked him to do, the General Assembly wouldn’t have passed the bills limiting his power now.
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