Hey Guv, about your veto threat: time for you to step up to the plate

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

When budget negotiations broke down last week between the Tea-Publican legislative leaders and Governor Jan Brewer, she issued a veto threat: "I will veto any bills you send to me until I get my budget!" (sniff).

Hey Guv, about your veto threat, time for you to step up to the plate and prove you are a woman of your words. The Tea-Publican legislative leadership is testing your resolve. They also appear to be violating Arizona law, again, by not transmitting this bill immediately to the Governor. "Every measure when finally passed shall be presented to the governor for his approval or disapproval." Arizona Constitution, Article 4, Part 2, Section 12.

UPDATE: In 2009, Governor Brewer sued the state for refusing to send her budget bills. The high court said lawmakers can’t hold bills beyond what is “reasonably necessary to complete any ministerial tasks.” The response from our Lawless Legislature: Senate Majority Leader Andy Biggs said the court ruling from two years ago was “wrong” to begin with. “… To enforce that ruling, the governor would have to go into court and ask them to compel us to transmit bills, and I don’t see that happening,” Biggs said. Despite Brewer’s demand for a budget, lawmakers passing – and holding – other bills | Arizona Capitol Times.

The Arizona Capitol Times (subscription required) reports Bill that would deny money to Planned Parenthood ready for governor | Arizona Capitol Times:

The Republican-led Senate today gave final approval to a bill that prohibits public money from going to Planned Parenthood.

Although the bill, HB2800, passed on an 18-8 vote and is now ready to be sent to the governor, lawmakers have no plans of sending the measure to the Ninth Floor right away.

Gov. Jan Brewer earlier threatened to reject any proposals that land on her desk before a final budget is in place.

Brewer and legislative leaders have been at loggerheads over the final shape of the state budget. The two sides have been negotiating the state’s spending plan for most of the session.

The measure prohibits the state from contracting with or making a grant to an entity that performs abortions or runs a facility where abortions are performed.

The measure also requires public funds for family planning to only go to certain places, such as state-owned health care centers and rural hospitals. The bill specifies their order of priority.

Critics said the proposal isn’t only an attack not only on Planned Parenthood, but also on low-income women.

* * *

Planned Parenthood’s critics have been waging a campaign to defund the organization and make it as tough as possible for it to keep its clinics open.

Arizona laws already prohibit any public money, including federal money, from being used for abortion services unless it is necessary to save the mother’s life.

Public money may also not be used to pay for a health insurance that provides for abortion services.

But Rep. Justin Olson, the bill’s sponsor, earlier said any taxpayer dollars that go to Planned Parenthood indirectly subsidize its abortion services.

As I've explained before, this claim is bullshit. Planned Parenthood rejected the notion that public funds are indirectly subsiding abortion services.