Spending control-plank-Rendell

==Rendell takes stand on strings in budget==
===Governor declares restrictions unlawful===
: Source: Tuesday, July 11, 2006, by Charles Thompson, The Patriot-News
Gov. Ed Rendell has issued a message with his enactment of a state capital budget, advising lawmakers he considers a part of the bill "null and void."
The $10.8 billion capital budget includes a statewide wish list of public works and economic development projects for which state money may be appropriated. The governor may select projects for money as they develop and when the money is available. Projects on the list are not guaranteed money, and typically, only a fraction of the projects receive state money.
This year's legislation includes conditions for the money to be released for some projects. Rendell signed the bill, but in his accompanying message, he said he sees some conditions as placing "undue and unlawful restrictions upon the authority of the governor." 
"Although some of the suggestions offered ... may be acceptable as a matter of policy and may, in fact, be implemented," the governor's message continued, "their inclusion in the bill has no legal effect."
The message is believed to be a first for Rendell. The governor's spokeswoman, Kate Philips, said it is in keeping with the administration's view that the General Assembly has no authority to write limiting language into any appropriations bill.
"I don't think this is a choice he can make," said Stephen C. MacNett, counsel to Senate Republicans. "If he believes a bill is unconstitutional, then he has a duty to veto it. When he puts his signature to it, he certainly has a duty to follow it."
Legislative leaders, in a three-page rider attached to the bill, placed conditions on allocations to some projects, such as a requirement for separate legislation before $200 million is granted to the Philadelphia Gas Works for infrastructure improvement.
Other projects would get a priority boost, such as a long-awaited series of renovations to the North Office Building, where the Senate has offices. The bill prohibits release of capital money to any major Department of General Services projects, including renovations to The State Museum in Harrisburg, until money has been spent on the North Office Building work.
MacNett defended the Legislature's language, arguing that since lawmakers have the ability to authorize projects for capital spending, it follows they should also have some say in setting conditions on that spending.
MacNett said a legislative response to Rendell's action will largely depend on the governor's decisions regarding the projects in question.
President Bush has taken criticism in recent weeks for similar "signing statements" declaring his refusal to enforce parts of certain bills he believes are unconstitutional.
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., has likened Bush's messages to presidential "cherry-picking" of legislation for the provisions he wants. The White House has said Bush's use of signing statements is similar to other presidents'.
category:Planks_from_elsewhere