VETO SESSIONS
The
concept of having a “Veto” session came about as the result of the
veto of ten bills by Governor Howard Dean after the close of the 1994
session. The session ended on June 12
at 3.21 A.M. and the Governor’s office announced at noon the same day
that he was going to veto ten bills.
It had been the practice at that time to hold the bills for the Governor
to pick up as long as they were all signed by June 30. Some of the bills that
were vetoed had been passed by the legislature several weeks before June 12.
The following are the veto sessions that have been held:
2011
Governor
Peter Shumlin vetoed Senate bill 77 relating to water testing of private
wells. The veto session was held on
June 7, 2011. No action was taken
on the veto by the House or Senate.
Rep. Warren Kitzmiller of
2010
Governor
James Douglas vetoed House bill 485 relating to the use value appraisal
program. The veto session was held
on June 9, 2010. No action was
taken on the veto by the House or Senate.
Shap Smith of
2007
Governor
James Douglas vetoed House Bill 520 relating to energy and conservation. He also vetoed Senate Bill 164 relating
to campaign finance. The veto
session was held on July 11, 2007.
The House sustained the Governor’s veto on H. 520 on a vote of 86
to override and 61 to sustain (2/3rds vote of 98 needed). The Senate voted to override the
Governor’s veto on S. 164 on a vote of 24 to override and 5 to sustain
(2/3rds vote of 20 needed). The
House sustained the veto on S. 164 on a vote of 97 to override and 50 to
sustain (2/3rds vote of 98 needed).
Gaye Symington of
2006
Governor
James Douglas vetoed House Bill 865, An act relating
to nondiscrimination. The veto session was held on June 1, 2006. No action was
taken on the veto by the House or Senate. Gaye Symington of
2004
Governor
James Douglas vetoed House Bill 781, An act relating
to insurance. The veto session was
held on June 16 and the Governor’s veto sustained in the House on a vote
of 5 to override and 121 to sustain the veto. Walter Freed of Dorset presided
as Speaker and Brian Dubie of
2003
Governor
James Douglas vetoed Senate Bill 114, An act relating
to access to juvenile proceedings. The veto session was held on June 19. No
action was taken on the veto by the House or Senate. The veto was subsequently
sustained by the Senate on January 8, 2004 on a vote of 0 to override and 28 to
sustain. Walter Freed of Dorset presided as Speaker and Brian Dubie of
2002
Governor
Howard Dean vetoed Senate Bill 151, An act relating to
abandoned motor vehicles. The veto session was held on June 28, 2002. The veto
was sustained in the Senate on a vote of 2 to override and 23 to sustain.
Walter Freed of Dorset presided as Speaker and Douglas Racine of
2000
Governor
Howard Dean vetoed Senate Bill 237, An act relating to
minors and alcohol. The veto session was held on May 31, 2000. The veto message
raised concerns about a specific section of the bill. House Bill 831, An act relating to minors and alcohol was introduced and
passed by both the House and Senate and messaged to the Governor. The veto of
Senate Bill 237 was sustained by the Senate on a vote of 6 to override and 18
to sustain. The House session started at 10.00 A.M. and adjourned at 12.47 P.M.