| Press Release |
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| July 28, 2009 |
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Governor Kulongoski issues notice of possible intent to veto
Governor's concerns relate to budgets for judicial branch and ODFW
(Salem) - Pursuant to Article V, Section 15a and Article V, Section 15b of the Oregon State Constitution, Governor Kulongoski today announced his possible intent to veto the following items:
House Bill 5054, Section 61(6) related to the reduction of General Fund for
Oregon Judicial Department Operations
Senate Bill 545 directing the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to
study the feasibility of, and costs associated with, purchasing Desert Springs Trout Farm.
This notice does not necessarily mean that the Governor will veto these bills or the specified items within these bills. Rather, this notice allows the Governor to take such action five days after the date of this notice, or later, if he chooses to do so.
The Governor is considering action on House Bill 5054 section 61(6) to help ensure that Oregon’s courts remain open and accessible to the public and that the civil and criminal justice systems continue to operate in an orderly manner.
Related to these goals, the Governor is concerned that the reduction imposed to the Judicial Department’s budget in HB 5054, when combined with the reduction in the Department’s underlying budget bill, HB 5020 would disproportionately underfund the Judicial Branch of government by over 15% below its essential budget level. Because the salaries of judges are constitutionally prohibited from being lowered, non-judge judicial branch employees and critical program areas would be further cut. Additionally, the Judicial Department may be forced to eliminate drug court coordinators that maintain a critical and effective component of Oregon’s public safety system.
If the Governor proceeds to veto the disappropriations identified above, he will restore $6.25 million in General Funds to the Oregon Judicial Department.
The Governor is considering action on Senate Bill 545 because the study required by this bill imposes an administrative and unfunded financial burden on the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) and would yield little or no new information over what is already known about fish hatchery production, disease and water quality relationships.
Fishing, and hatchery production to support fishing, is important to Oregon’s citizens, especially its trout anglers. The Governor and ODFW are committed to ensuring that hatchery trout production is economical, effective and healthy, and this ongoing commitment does not require a statute. In addition, ODFW already is pursuing its interest in acquiring the Desert Springs Trout Farm as a hatchery site. The proposed study would not aid in that process.
This notice is not exhaustive and may be followed by subsequent notices of intent to veto.
Contacts:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
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