Opinion ID: 2570810
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Does the vetoed language in the CRC appropriation violate the principle of separation of powers?

Text: The Alaska Constitution provides that [t]he executive power of the State is vested in the governor. [100] The governor argues that the vetoed language violates this provision and thus the principle of governmental separation of powers because it eliminates the department's discretion to contract with public agencies to provide CRC space. The council argues that the policy decision to fund privately owned CRCs rather than publicly owned CRCs was a legitimate exercise of legislative power. We agree with the council. We held above that this language does not preclude the department from fulfilling its statutory mandate. Instead, this language embodies a permissible policy decision on how to spend the CRC money. It therefore does not violate the separation-of-powers principle.