Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

timewellwasted5 t1_ivk1gh8 wrote

>how the PA legislature works

Anything, whether a law or spending, needs to pass through both houses on the PA legislature (PA House and PA Senate) and then be signed by the governor. The legislature can only override the governor if they have a veto proof majority, which neither party currently has. Thus, the Republican controlled legislature and the Democratic governor currently need to both sign off on any budgetary expenditures, tax modifications, or laws of any type. Anything I missed?

−4

TacoNomad t1_ivk752o wrote

Can you give some examples of laws that have passed the legislature and been denied by the governor?

4

timewellwasted5 t1_ivk8b30 wrote

Certainly, here are bills that he vetoed by year:

2022 - 10 bills

2021 - 5 bills

2020 - 19 bills

2019 - 4 bills

2018 - 5 bills

2017 - 3 bills

2016 - 8 bills

2015 - 10 bills if you include the line item veto, 9 if you don't

Total: 64 (65 if you count the line item veto)

That covers all his years in office and was easy to find with a quick Google search. Happy to help :)

Source: https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/CL/Public/cl_view_action1.cfm?sess_yr=&sess_ind=0&cl_typ=BV&cl_nbr=

6

TacoNomad t1_ivk9xw5 wrote

Thanks. That's helpful. I'm reviewing the vetoed bills, I should have asked more directly, which vetoed bills you find important that he vetoed.

Looking at some of these, well, some are really odd, unnecessary or clearly in bad faith, so I'm thankful we have a sane governor looking out for us. I'm curious if there are any in particular that you you believe were vetoed in bad faith

6

timewellwasted5 t1_ivkb00h wrote

Not at all. I actually like Tom Wolf. I don't always agree with him, but I believe he's a good dude and his intentions are genuine.

What I DON'T like is when people blindly say Republicans have some stranglehold on power and the direction of the state which very clearly isn't there. Anything passed over the last eight years in PA required the signoff of the Republican legislature and the Democratic governor. Saying anything else, such as what was suggested in the original comment I replied to, is wholly false.

3

TacoNomad t1_ivkbnv3 wrote

I agree with that. But one factor is, if there is a republican majority, lots of democrat led policy won't even make it to the governor. Who controls the legislature is definitely a factor in what laws are proposed. I like, at least, that Pennsylvania is a purple state and that there is potential for all voices to be heard. But having the majority control still does have impacts.

1

timewellwasted5 t1_ivkc4ia wrote

>if there is a republican majority, lots of democrat led policy won't even make it to the governor.

And if there is a Democratic governor, most Republican policy won't make it in to law. It's literally the system of checks and balances working exactly as intended. The odds of a 50/50 Democrat/Republican legislature split are astronomically low. Ergo, Republicans are not 'running the state' as originally suggested. Our system of checks and balances is in place and is working.

1