Republicans Clash over Line-Item Vetoes

AUSTIN — A Republican power struggle emerges over questionable vetoes by Governor Abbott — with an East Texan weighing in on a case that could end up in the state Supreme Court. It began when the director of the state’s Legislative Budget Board sent a letter to the comptroller questioning $200 million of Abbott’s budget vetoes. Rice University political science professor Mark Jones says, “The LBB’s argument is that the governor can only use his power of a line-item veto on appropriation items.” LBB director Ursula Parks led the charge in making that argument. State Senator and LBB member Kevin Eltife of Tyler (pictured) says, “The governor can reach into agencies as well, so he has several ways of stopping a project if he doesn’t want it done.” Lt. Governor Dan Patrick now sides with Abbott, leaving House Speaker Joe Straus on the other side of the debate.