Governor Martin O'Malley Vetoes Bill, Allows Others to Become Law without Signature
ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 21, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley allowed two bills to become law today without his signature, including a bill which formally defines flavored malt beverages as beer. In addition, Governor O’Malley vetoed one bill.
Governor O’Malley allowed the following bills to become law without his signature:
- SB 251 / HB 303 – Anne Arundel County – Well Drillers – Permit Fee
- SB 745 – Alcoholic Beverages – Definitions – Beer
“While these bills today will become law in Maryland, the absence of my signature should indicate to the General Assembly that there is work left to be done,” said Governor O’Malley in announcing the decision today.
“In particular, I look forward to returning to the flavored malt beverage issue during the next legislative session, working with advocates on both sides, to build a broader consensus for regulating these alcoholic beverages. It is my opinion that the Constitution contemplates, and the public expects, major regulatory and taxation decisions of this nature to be made in the fullness of legislative consideration, not through the chance confluence of an opinion of the Attorney General and the veto of a Governor.”
“I will, therefore, be working with the Attorney General and interested parties in the upcoming Session of the Maryland General Assembly to build a broader consensus for regulating more effectively what many would rightly conclude is a fourth category of alcoholic beverages.”
In addition, Governor O’Malley vetoed SB 398 / HB 501 – Anne Arundel County – Environmental Health Monitoring – Reimbursement of Costs, which would have required the Department of the Environment to reimburse Anne Arundel County for the cost of environmental health monitoring and testing.
In his veto letter Governor O’Malley wrote, “The appropriate public policy discussion is whether the Department should be authorized to incorporate reimbursement provisions in the assessment of a penalty, for every jurisdiction in the State. My Administration would be willing to engage in that discussion during the 2009 Session of the Maryland General Assembly. But Senate Bill 398 does not accomplish that public policy goal - instead, it diverts resources of the Department to reimburse a single local government a specific amount for a past event, and an uncapped, indeterminate amount for future events, for functions the County has agreed to perform.”
By law, the Governor has 30 days to veto a bill that has been presented to him by the General Assembly. If no action is taken, the bill automatically becomes law. Vetoed bills are returned to the General Assembly where a three-fifths majority in both houses is required to override.
[ L etters from Governor O’Malley to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr. and House Speaker Michael E. Busch can be viewed by following the links above ]
