Did She Know, Or Didn't She?
State Dems Say Rell Knew She Was Violating Law Over the Budget
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Democrats take aim at Governor's line item vetoes.
"I think it's very important that the governor come forward and answer the questions, what she knew and when she knew it."
Democratic State Party Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo Monday charged the governor with either ignoring the advice of lawyers, or being victimized by a staff who did not get correct information to the governor.
Shortly after the Democratic-controlled state legislature approved the new, two-year budget, Rell said she should let it become law without her signature. At the same time, she said she would execute a number of line-item vetoes totaling about eight million dollars. But Attorney General Richard Blumenthal quickly advised the governor she could not executive the vetoes because she had not signed the budget.
DiNardo said Rell got similar advice from her own lawyers. And DiNardo said that either the governor chose to ignore that advice, or Lisa Moody or other staff members received the correct information but did not share it with the governor. Said DiNardo, "That's a concern. Either she knowingly lied to the people or she is not running our government and Lisa Moody is running our government. And I think we need to know which it is".
Lawrence Cafero, the House Republican leader, said he wants to know what DiNardo's accusation. He said DiNardo is not alleging any law being broken so that this whole business about what did the governor know and when did she know it is somewhat irrelevant to the budget process.
Monday night Rell's office said the governor received advice on this issue from several lawyers who had different opinions. Her office said the ultimate decision is up to the governor and that she decided she did have the authority to execute the vetoes.
Posted Monday, Sep 21, 2009 - 8:05 PM EST
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