After lawmakers sent more than 1,400 new laws to Gov. Rick Perry at the end of what many have called a productive and bipartisan session, some two dozen measures fell victim to his veto pen June 14, including legislation authored on both sides of the aisle.
From the Democrat-championed bill protecting women from wage discrimination to Republican-sponsored ethics measures, the veto axe fell on a total of 28 bills—far short of the record 82 bills Perry killed at the end of the 2001 legislative session.
Perry had until the night of June 16 to issue his vetoes, though he did the lion's share of that work on June 14.
Measures he vetoed include a bill that restricted the powers of the University of Texas Board of Regents; an ethics bill that, among other things, required members of the Railroad Commission to step down before they run for another office; a bill that would have required politically involved nonprofits to disclose their donors; and a measure that banned sugary drinks and whole milk from being served in school cafeterias.
Office of Public Integrity funding
Perry also used his line-item veto powers, reserved only for the budget bills, to de-fund the Office of Public Integrity in the Travis County District Attorney's office and remove millions of dollars in higher education construction funding, along with some other minor changes.
The public integrity office lost its funding after Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, whose office houses that unit, refused to step down after her DWI arrest in April.
Perry had said earlier in the week that if the Democrat did not resign, he would zero out the funding for the unit, which investigates ethics crimes by politicians. He made good on that threat on Friday.
"I cannot in good conscience support continued state funding for an office with statewide jurisdiction at a time when the person charged with ultimate responsibility of that unit has lost the public's confidence," Perry said. "This unit is in no other way held accountable to state taxpayers, except through the state budgetary process."
Advocacy groups have filed a complaint with prosecutors regarding Perry's actions on the public integrity office, saying his threats constitute official oppression, which is against the law. The unit is supposed to be separate and independent from politicians.
State version of Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Another bill that died by Perry's pen was the state's version of the federal Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which makes it easier for women to get restitution in the courts if they are the victims of pay discrimination.
Perry said it was unnecessary because victims can already get restitution. The bill would have made it much easier, allowing women more time to prove that they have been victimized.
"Texas families all across our state—whether they are supported by single mothers or by working mothers and fathers—deserve to be paid fairly for the work they do," said Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, sponsor of the bill. "By vetoing the equal pay for equal work bill, Gov. Perry shows a callous disregard for wages required to support Texas families."
