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VETOES

House Bill No. 1007 - Governor — Appropriations in Budget

Bill

AN ACT concerning

Governor - Appropriations in Budget Bill

FOR the purpose of specifying the manner of appropriating in
the State budget till certain expenditures relating to
the maintenance and operation of the official residence
of the Governor, Government House; providing for the
manner of disbursing and accounting for these
expenditures of the Governor and Government House;
relating to appropriations and expenditures for the
Governor and Government House; and providing for an
effective date.

May 29, 1978
Honorable John Hanson Briscoe
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the
Constitution of Maryland, I have today vetoed House Bill
1007.

This bill specifics the manner of appropriating in the
Budget Bill certain expenditures relating to the maintenance
and operation of Government House, the official residence of
the Governor.

House Bill 1007 was introduced on behalf of the
Governor's Salary Commission. The Commission recommended
that a system be devised to provide a strict accounting of
the funds used in the operation of Government House. The
objective which the Commission sought is an accounting
system which will be open to public scrutiny and evaluation.

I am completely in accord with the objectives and
recommendations of the Governor's Salary Commission. House
Bill 1007, as introduced, would have met those objectives.
However, during the legislative process, amendments were
added to the bill which persuade me to veto this measure,
albeit reluctantly.

As amended, House Bill 1007 requires that, beginning
with fiscal year 1980, expenditures for Government House
shall be appropriated by category under the heading
"maintenance and operation of Government House". These
include a category, added by amendment, for "personnel
positions involved in the operation and maintenance of