The AG gives a green light and a lawmaker says: “Let’s go!”

Thursday, May 8, 2008 | 4:07 p.m.

The AG has written a precedential opinion saying lawmakers can have a say in budget cuts -- but only if the interim Finance Committee meets to do so. I have posted the opinion at right.

And here is how state Sen. Bob Coffin reacted in a letter to his colleagues:

Hello All:

Good news for the health of the Legislative branch of government: the

Governor has received an opinion from the AG's office that all the

budget cuts have to be submitted to the Legislature for approval or

denial.

Sorta bad news is that the opinion is written in such a way that he can

send them to us in what we call an "expeditious" manner which forces the

Legislature's Interim Finance Committee to act within 15 days on them.

If we don't act they are approved.

So, the onus is on us. We need to let leadership know that our votes on

behalf of our constitutents count and that leadership needs to call a

meeting of the IFC within 15 days of receiving the "work program

changes," or cuts. We do have a regular meeting scheduled for June 26

so I would imagine the Governor will try to slip these changes in well

before the committee meets hence the need to let our folks know how

important this is. If we do not meet the cuts automatically take

effect.

In this particular case the Leadership of the Committee is Assembly Ways

and Means Chair Morse Arberry and his Vice-chair is Senator Bill Raggio.

The gavel is with the Assembly this interim so tradition says that

Chairman Arberry issues the call.

W can thank Controller Kim Wallin for standing by her oath and insisting

on Legislative approval of work program changes. It is a different

statute which is working here and it is ironic that we are finally

getting our statutory "case" resolved since the Governor continues to

insist that our statutory language passed repeatedly in past sessions

and in 2007 said that he must bring these matters to the Legislature.

IFC Secretary Lorne Malkewich tells me that this move by the Governor is

good precedent to prevent him from acting outside the law in the future.

Lorne is going to notify us the moment the budget work program changes

hit his desk as he is the official designated in the statutes to receive

the documents.

It ought to be said by all of us that only Democrats spoke up over the

past six months to call for the proper procedure to be followed by the

Governor. See you Friday at caucus.

Bob