North Dakota Legislature Faces Uncertainty Over Line-Item Veto Issue
By Amy Dalrymple, North Dakota Monitor
In a developing situation, North Dakota lawmakers are considering a special session to address a legal challenge stemming from Governor Kelly Armstrong’s recent line-item veto of Senate Bill 2014. This dilemma arose when Armstrong’s veto message specifically rejected a $150,000 grant but also included red markings that eliminated a crucial $35 million allocation from the Housing Incentive Fund.
To clarify the legality of this veto, the Governor’s legal counsel has requested an opinion from the state’s attorney general, focusing on whether the written message or the visual markings fulfill the constitutional criteria for a line-item veto.
Legislative leaders are also conducting their own legal research into potential circumstances that could compel the Legislature to reconvene, exacerbated by a recent appeals court ruling impacting legislative districts.
Mike Nowatzki, the governor’s spokesman, indicated that the attorney general’s forthcoming opinion will be essential in determining the Legislature’s next steps. As discussions continue, North Dakota’s lawmakers are left in limbo, awaiting clarity on this significant governance matter.
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