North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong encountered a significant error when he unintentionally vetoed $35 million from the state’s housing budget while attempting to strike a few specific line items from an agency budget bill approved by the legislature. The mistake is notable; John Bjornson, the legislative council director, indicated it’s unprecedented in his 37 years of experience.
Armstrong’s staff referred to the incident as a “markup error.” His intention was to veto a $150,000 grant intended for a Native American homelessness liaison position, but the veto mistakenly impacted the much larger housing budget. This error raises questions about the next steps, as the governor’s office has indicated it will fix the situation but emphasized hopes to avoid the financial burden of a special legislative session.
In Nebraska, Governor Jim Pillen similarly encountered issues with line-item vetoes, announcing cuts that caught the attention of the state legislature, which claimed he had missed a deadline for proper filing.
In North Dakota, Bjornson noted that resolution likely means convening a special session. The legislature has six days left within its 80-day session, and a special session could also allow lawmakers to consider overriding other vetoes by Armstrong. If the legislature decides to only restore the $35 million housing budget, they may need to draft and pass a new bill, which could take up to three days.
The situation illustrates the complexities of budget management and the potential repercussions of errors in the legislative process, with both governors facing scrutiny over their veto actions.
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