Gov. Larry Hogan pulled out a stamp and a red marker Wednesday to veto a bill that would overhaul the state process for vetting and approving the construction and renovation of schools.
Comptroller Peter Franchot, a Democrat who has no veto authority, nonetheless joined the Republican governor in signing the veto at the weekly meeting of the Board of Public Works. Both men had sharp words for lawmakers who might be considering an override of the veto.
“I can only assume that some legislators maybe had no idea what they were voting for when their party leaders forced them to pass this horrible bill,” Hogan said. “Let me be very, very clear: Anyone who votes to override this veto will be voting against transparency, against accountability in education, against fiscal responsibility and against the wishes of an overwhelming majority of Marylanders.”
State Treasurer Nancy Kopp, a Democrat who works with Franchot and Hogan to consider school projects as the third member of the Board of Public Works, criticized her colleagues for what she called “kabuki theater.”
“I understand why you had to veto it today,” Kopp said. “I just wish we could cut the theater and get back to work.
Click here to read the rest of the article written by Scott Dance over at the Baltimore Sun