Gov. Sonny Perdue has extended an olive branch to lawmakers upset that he vetoed $142 million in the state budget. He met with the six budget negotiators Thursday.
"The governor and the legislature are working together to avoid the problems of the last session and make sure that we're focused on the future," says Senate Speaker Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), who attended the meeting.
Johnson says no one wants the next session—in an important election year—to be as bitter as this past one. It dragged on until late spring, when Perdue struck down many of lawmakers’ pet projects. He also told agencies to ignore lawmakers' instructions about spending their money.
Johnson says Perdue has promised to include lawmakers in upcoming budget talks. He dismissed the fight this year as a growing pain as Republicans get used to controlling both the legislature and the executive branch.
House Speaker Glenn Richardson was not at the meeting.
"The governor and the legislature are working together to avoid the problems of the last session and make sure that we're focused on the future," says Senate Speaker Pro Tem Eric Johnson (R-Savannah), who attended the meeting.
Johnson says no one wants the next session—in an important election year—to be as bitter as this past one. It dragged on until late spring, when Perdue struck down many of lawmakers’ pet projects. He also told agencies to ignore lawmakers' instructions about spending their money.
Johnson says Perdue has promised to include lawmakers in upcoming budget talks. He dismissed the fight this year as a growing pain as Republicans get used to controlling both the legislature and the executive branch.
House Speaker Glenn Richardson was not at the meeting.
