The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Wednesday Senate Republican and Democratic Leadership filed a lawsuit on election day against Gov. Corbett for his veto of provisions in the Fiscal Code bill in July which, among other items, vetoed $5 million in Senate and House funding for Harrisburg Parking expenses.

The major environmental line items vetoed by the Governor include--

-- $500,000 in DCNR’s budget for Washington Crossing Historical Park;

-- $150,000 for independent research of natural gas drilling; and

-- Specific amounts in specific counties for sewage facilities planning, system operations.

Click Here for a copy of the item veto message listing those items from the Fiscal Code bill.

In a separate action in the main budget bill, Gov. Corbett vetoed $65 million in direct funding for all four Caucuses of the General Assembly and $7.2 million in legislatively designated spending.

At the time, Gov. Corbett said, “As they did in the last three budgets, agencies sharpened their pencils, set priorities, and spent what they had – not what they wished they had.  We made tough decisions so that funding for critical programs and services that benefit the people of Pennsylvania would go unharmed. It is what I promised the people of Pennsylvania I would do, and, frankly, it is what they expect and deserve from their state government.

“The same, however, cannot be said for the General Assembly,” he noted.

The lawsuit, a copy of which is included with the Post-Gazette article, said Gov. Corbett does not have the authority to veto individual items in the Fiscal Code bill since it does not represent an appropriation line item.

As a result, the lawsuit says, the Governor violated the separation of executive and legislative power.

NewsClips:

Senate Leaders Sue Corbett Over Funding Veto

PA Senate Leaders Sue Corbett Over Budget Vetoes

Senate Leaders Sue Corbett Over Budget Vetoes

Corbett Sued Over Legislative Spending Cuts

PA Revenue Collections Higher Than Expected In October

11/10/2014