Stephen Farnsworth at the University of Mary Washington says governors across the country would love to have the kind of power the Virginia governor has, not just the line-item veto but the ability to amend any bill to make it say what you want it to say rather than the way it got out of the General Assembly.
“These vetoes and these amendments still have to get through the legislature," Farnsworth says. "But it’s really a powerful way to shape the discourse in a way that you like and force the other party to take unpleasant votes if they want to oppose your initiatives as governor.”
Link to report
Examining the Power of Virginia’s Governor (WVTF)
Stephen Farnsworth at the University of Mary Washington says governors across the country would love to have the kind of power the Virginia governor has, not just the line-item veto but the ability to amend any bill to make it say what you want it to say rather than the way it got out of the General Assembly.
“These vetoes and these amendments still have to get through the legislature," Farnsworth says. "But it’s really a powerful way to shape the discourse in a way that you like and force the other party to take unpleasant votes if they want to oppose your initiatives as governor.”
Link to report
