A letter has renewed the budget battle between top state lawmakers and Gov. Sonny Perdue.
Six of the state's most powerful legislators—all Republicans—have sent a memo to state agency heads warning them not to stray from the budget passed by the General Assembly back in April.
That bill contained lawmaker's instructions on how agencies should spend their money. But Perdue told agencies to disregard it. He says the state constitution does not give lawmakers the authority to issue spending instructions.
In this memo, Sens. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), Tommie Williams (R-Lyons), and Jack Hill (R-Reidsville), and Reps. Mark Burkhalter (R-Duluth), Jerry Keen (R-St. Simon's Island) and Ben Harbin (R-Evans) remind agencies that the General Assembly hold their purse strings, and will not hesitate to tighten them in January, when the legislature revisits the state budget.
Here is an excerpt from the memo:
Confused agency directors called Perdue's office. The governor shot back at lawmakers with his own letter.
In other words, Perdue says that he is sticking to his guns. But his spokesman, Burt Brantley, strikes a conciliatory note.
"We want to work issues out with the legislature," he says. "We do not want agencies to have to choose between one or the other. That is a tough position to be in."
Brantley says lawmakers know the governor is willing to work with them. Perdue ends his letter by saying that his door remains open.
Six of the state's most powerful legislators—all Republicans—have sent a memo to state agency heads warning them not to stray from the budget passed by the General Assembly back in April.
That bill contained lawmaker's instructions on how agencies should spend their money. But Perdue told agencies to disregard it. He says the state constitution does not give lawmakers the authority to issue spending instructions.
In this memo, Sens. Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), Tommie Williams (R-Lyons), and Jack Hill (R-Reidsville), and Reps. Mark Burkhalter (R-Duluth), Jerry Keen (R-St. Simon's Island) and Ben Harbin (R-Evans) remind agencies that the General Assembly hold their purse strings, and will not hesitate to tighten them in January, when the legislature revisits the state budget.
Here is an excerpt from the memo:
You should be aware that any expenditure conflicting with the intent of the appropriation jeopardizes our confidence in your ability to act as a proper steward of public funds. In writing the 2008 Amended Budget, we reserve the option of reducing or eliminating funding for your agency by that amount.
Confused agency directors called Perdue's office. The governor shot back at lawmakers with his own letter.
An appropriation consists of (1) a recipient, (2) a purpose, and (3) an amount. Language beyond these three criteria is neither authorized by constitutional or statutory law, nor is it binding….In sum, it was within my authority to strike certain earmarks because the information language is not part of the appropriation.
In other words, Perdue says that he is sticking to his guns. But his spokesman, Burt Brantley, strikes a conciliatory note.
"We want to work issues out with the legislature," he says. "We do not want agencies to have to choose between one or the other. That is a tough position to be in."
Brantley says lawmakers know the governor is willing to work with them. Perdue ends his letter by saying that his door remains open.
