05/05/24

Please pass Line-Item Veto legislation

Dear Representative Jose F. Batista,

Are you a friend or are you a foe of good government in Rhode Island?

I am writing to you today to ask you for your specific stance on the line-item veto, a critically important check and balance between the Executive and Legislative branches of our government.

Your constituents deserve to know whether you support or are against a line-item veto in Rhode Island.

Many Rhode Island legislators have refused to answer this most basic question over the last eight years. That reluctance to take a stand on an issue that is a fundamental part of the operation of the governments of 44 other states and not ours is simply not acceptable.

I am asking you to actively engage in your chamber to advocate for and lobby for a line-item veto in Rhode Island. Will you do so?

In the 2019 legislative session, we saw two major issues arise that screamed out for a line-item veto.

1. The itemized budget contained a million taxpayer dollars to go to Dr. Pedro, a Cranston-based chiropractor, to pay for procedures that Medicaid refuses to pay for because the procedures were not scientifically proven. It is important to note that the original budget from the governor did not include this line-item - it was added by the House. The office of the governor stated that it would have absolutely vetoed this terrible spending item had a line-item veto been available. After a large public outcry, the House removed the $1,000,000 to Dr. Pedro.

2. The House inserted budget language that attempted to impose legislative oversight over the permitting for a new marijuana program. This language would have very likely been determined to be in violation of the separation of powers clause in our constitution. Keep in mind the recent corruption attached to marijuana licensing that arose in Fall River, MA. This sort of legislative power grab buried in the budget is exactly what a line-item veto is designed to defeat. After a lawsuit was threatened, the legislature agreed to revoke this power grab.

44 other states provide their governors with a line-item veto. Whenever Rhode Island works seriously differently from other places, it gives people and businesses pause. We have the opportunity to make a change that that can have a positive outcome for everyone - all it takes is you to make it happen.

Please note that I believe that a horse trade for the line-item veto is wrong. I do not believe that bringing Rhode Island in line with other states regarding the line-item veto should involve other legislation not directly relevant to RI's budget process. I hope that you agree.

77% of the states with a line-item veto have a veto override threshold of 66%. 65% of states with the line-item veto require the override threshold to be from all elected legislators, as opposed to those present on the day of the vote.

I also believe that Massachusetts' version of the line-item veto which allows the Governor to reduce a line-item as an option to just eliminating the line-item is a very good option that should be part of Rhode Island's version of the line-item veto.

I respectfully ask you to vote to approve legislation that will allow the voters of Rhode Island to vote on whether or not to bring a line-item veto to Rhode Island on this November's ballot.

Please respond to me with your position on this issue.

Sincerely,