Budget showdown on schools comes to an end

Kari Chisholm

Despite last night's late-night scrambling to develop a new budget bill that would meet Governor Kulongoski's approval, House leaders took one last shot at overriding his veto of SB 5520 - and were successful. The vote was 51 to 8.

From OPB:

It's the first time Oregon lawmakers have overridden a veto in Kulongoski's six-and-a-half years in office.

It came after several days of drama.

Democrats in both the Senate and the House failed in their initial attempts to override the governor when Republicans refused to go along with the plan.

Then, after lengthy discussions, some GOP lawmakers changed their minds, giving Legislative leaders a political victory over Kulongoski, a fellow Democrat.

Was there a deal? Hard to know:

House Minority leader, Republican Bruce Hanna, was vague about the nature of those negotiations.

Bruce Hanna: “I don't know that any bill specifically will move or not move, but it gave us the opportunity to voice concerns over many different issues.”

Governor Kulongoski expressed concern that the legislative budget was overly optimistic - but was also hopeful that he'd be proved wrong.

From the Portland Business Journal:

“I disagree with the decision to reduce the state reserve funds during this very uncertain economic time,” Kulongoski said in a statement. “With record unemployment and state revenues at risk of declining over the course of the biennium, I remain concerned that today’s decision puts the state’s long-term financial stability at great risk.” ...

“I hope that in February 2010 when the Legislature reconvenes that state revenues have held strong, and we are in the position to invest more into K-12 education, not cut it,” Kulongoski said.

Having passed an education budget, the way is clear for adjournment sometime in the next few days.

Discuss.

By Kari Chisholm June 25, 2009