Legislature reconvenes hoping to fund projects vetoed by Beebe

Leaders of the Legislature have allotted just two days to wrap up business by modifying several appropriations to meet the constitutionality objections of Gov. Mike Beebe and then go home for good.

The changes in General Improvement Fund allocations were proposed after Beebe vetoed six proposals that he said violated a constitutional ban on funding strictly local projects.

House Speaker Benny Petrus, D-Stuttgart, said legislative leaders met with Beebe and proposed changing the measures so the money would go to state agencies to distribute as they choose, instead of naming specific local projects.

The proposals include allocating $100,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services for programs for the developmentally disabled and $425,429 to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission to distribute in grants and aid.

"I think this will correct every one of (Beebe's concerns)," Petrus said. "No one really wanted to override a veto."

Petrus and Senate President Jack Critcher, D-Batesville, said the proposal to change the allocations was to be considered Monday by the House and by the Senate on Tuesday, followed by formal adjournment.

Beebe had vetoed eight bills total from the session, and said six of them would violate the local projects ban. He cited a state Supreme Court decision last year that said the Legislature violated that ban when it appropriated $400,000 for street improvements in Bigelow.

Beebe spokesman Matt DeCample said the governor supports the concept of funding the state agencies rather than specific projects.

"He didn't have any issue with the merits of the (projects)," DeCample said. "He felt they had to be vetoed because they could run afoul of the Supreme Court decision."

The formal adjournment will mark the end of an 86-day session where lawmakers passed the largest tax cuts in state history and increased money for schools.