OLYMPIA, Wash. – State lawmakers are suing Governor Jay Inslee for the second time over allegedly exceeding his veto power.
The Northwest News Network reports that the lawsuit challenges the governor’s use of line-item vetoes to remove parts of the state transportation budget and eliminate a subsection of a low carbon fuels bill.
Generally, the governor is limited to vetoing entire bills, entire sections of bills or whole appropriation items in a budget bill.
The lawsuit seeks to have Inslee’s vetoes invalidated and the language he struck returned to the legislation.
Last month, the State Supreme Court sided with legislators in a separate lawsuit saying it is important to maintain the proper balance between branches of the state government.
Inslee says his veto is constitutional because Legislators cannot intentional design a bill section to intentionally circumvent his veto powers.