| Press Release |
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| August 6, 2009 |
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Governor Kulongoski issues line-item vetoes on house bill 5054 and veto on senate bill 545
(Salem) - Today, pursuant to Article V, Section 15a, of the Oregon Constitution, Governor Kulongoski vetoed single items in House Bill 5054 and signed the remaining bill into law. Governor Kulongoski also returned Senate Bill 545 unsigned and disapproved pursuant to Article V, Section 15b of the Oregon State Constitution.
House Bill 5054, Section 61(4) restores reductions of General Funds and Other Funds for Department of Higher Education.
“I am deeply concerned that this provision would force the University system to raise tuition, which when combined with the underfunding of the Oregon Opportunity Grant program in the legislatively adopted budget, will make higher education less accessible for many low income and middle-income Oregonians,” said the Governor in the letter returned with the line-item veto.
House Bill 5054, Section 61(6) restores reductions in General Fund for Oregon Judicial Department Operations.
“I believe that this decrease cuts too deeply into the Judicial branch of government,” the Governor continued in his letter to the Secretary of State. “It jeopardizes the branch's ability to maintain an open and accessible court system for Oregonians and may endanger other critical services such as drug courts.”
For the full text of the Governor’s line-item veto letter for Sections 61 (4) and (6) of House Bill 5054, click here.
Senate Bill 545 directs the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to study the feasibility of, and costs associated with, purchasing the Desert Springs Trout Farm.
“Fishing, and hatchery trout production to support fishing, is very important to the State of Oregon,” the Governor stated in his veto letter. “Therefore, by letter, I will direct ODFW to continue to assess ways to improve the efficiency, quality and health of its hatchery trout program, including assessment of the cost and benefits of acquiring the Desert Springs Trout Farm. This ongoing assessment does not require a statute and will help set the stage for future agency and legislative considerations.”
For the full text of the Governor’s veto letter for Senate Bill 545, click here.
Contact:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-6169
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
Attorney General’s Office, 503-378-6002
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