St. John’s Well Child and Family Center v. Schwarzenegger
California Supreme Court
239 P.3d 651, 50 Cal. 4th 960, 116 Cal. Rptr. 3d 195 (2010)
- Written by Deanna Curl, JD
Facts
In 2009, California fell into economic turmoil, and Governor Schwarzenegger (defendant) declared a fiscal crisis under the California Constitution. As a result, the state legislature reassembled in a special session to reassess the 2009 Budget Act, the state’s 2009-2010 appropriations statute. In July 2009, the legislature passed Assembly Bill 4X1 (Bill 4X1), a measure that reduced spending appropriations from the 2009 Budget Act. Before signing Bill 4X1 into law, Governor Schwarzenegger used line-item veto authority to reduce further and eliminate several of Bill 4X1’s provisions. Many of the governor’s individual adjustments within Bill 4X1 further reduced budget items that the legislature had already reduced from the amount originally allocated in the 2009 Budget Act. A group of organizations impacted by the budget cuts (the organizations) (plaintiff) filed a lawsuit alleging that the governor’s use of the line-item veto in Bill 4X1 violated the California Constitution.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (George, C.J.)
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