“I’ve talked about—this is just strictly talk—it should be normal when you adjourn sine die at the end of a two-year session to have a veto override session, just in case. That’s not the governor, I don’t even know if he’s going to veto anything, but we used to do that years ago,” Ramsey said. (Photo: Daniel Potter/WPLN)
Lieutenant Governor Ron Ramsey is looking to keep his options open, in case lawmakers want to override a veto from Governor Bill Haslam. Ramsey wants to schedule a special veto override session, just in case.
The governor has ten days after a bill passes to decide to block it. For one passed near the end of session, just before lawmakers leave town, a veto can be the end unless lawmakers return for an override vote.
Ramsey, the speaker of the state Senate, says he’s mentioned the idea to House Speaker Beth Harwell:
“Definitely needs to be thought about ahead of time. I think it oughta be something you do every year. So it doesn’t look personal. So it doesn’t look like you’re mad—‘Well, I think he may veto it.’ Because I honestly don’t know of anything, but I think every year and I’ve talked to Beth about this, and we used to do this.”
One likely candidate could be a bill allowing guns in in any park across the state. Another would delay a new statewide test that comes with the Common Core educational standards.
Haslam isn’t a fan of either proposal, but lawmakers can override him with a simple majority, so his veto’s power is all in the timing.
Scheduling a veto override session would make that power a lot weaker.
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