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Small Business News July 2003 | Lead Photo & Story
The 2003 Legislative Session officially came to a close (the lawmakers adjourned May 1) June 20 when Governor Linda Lingle announced she was going to veto a near record (former Democrat Governor Ben Cayetano holds that record) 50 bills. Among them were tax and labor bills fought by business, taxpayers and Republican lawmakers. It is doubtful that the majority Democrats will organize a Special Session to override Lingle's vetoes - lthough that was part of their strategy during the Session. They would need a 2/3 vote in both houses to override and chances are slim. Several of the key bills will be back next year in amended form. Several special interest groups lobbied against vetoes of their pet tax and government bureaucracy bills. The Governor declined to hold a "veto signing ceremony," including those that supported her veto position, and instead, after vetoing 2 bills during the Session and 1 in May, chose to announce a wholesale turndown June 20. She also will use her line item veto powers on the $3.7 billion state operating budget. More than 3,400 bills were introduced in January and 269 actually passed by May 1. The Governor has signed 194 bills into law as of press time and allowed a handful of others to become law without her signature. Many bills are still stuck in conference committee with most not getting a hearing. Technically all remaining bills are still "alive" and could be back next year for the 2004 Session. Former Governor Cayetano holds the veto record for 8 years in office. He vetoed 84 bills his first year (1995). Among the key bills Governor Lingle vetoed, most announced on June 20, are the following partial list. Bold face indicates those very bad bills opposed by SBH and most business organizations. READ MORE BY DOWNLOADING THE JULY 2003 SMALL BUSINESS NEWS
Inside the July 2003 issue of Small Business News
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