Lingle's veto list fixed, after deadline

Advertiser Staff

Gov. Linda Lingle yesterday issued corrections to five of her veto warnings — including one on a bill that would allow counties to raise taxes for mass transit — because of typographical errors in the original messages sent to state lawmakers on Monday.

The errors involved listing incorrect bill numbers in the portion of the proclamations in which the governor gave notice to lawmakers that she may veto the bills. Monday was the deadline under the state Constitution for Lingle to inform lawmakers of possible vetoes. The governor has until July 12 to decide whether to actually veto the bills.

Linda Smith, the governor's senior policy adviser, said state attorneys believe the errors should have no bearing on the veto process. Smith said a clerk at the Legislative Reference Bureau pointed out the typos to the governor's staff.

Attorneys for state lawmakers were reviewing whether the corrections, which came in after the constitutional deadline, jeopardize the governor's power to veto the bills.