Matt Blunt To Use Line-Item Veto

Matt Blunt will use the line-item veto to trim additional cost from the state budget:

Gov. Matt Blunt likely will cut millions of dollars out of the budget passed by the Legislature. Lawmakers say that's just the way they planned it.

Legislative budget writers acknowledged Thursday that the $19.2 billion budget that they passed last month is balanced on the assumption that Blunt will trim $26.4 million in state general revenue spending through line-item vetoes or by withholding expenditures. Blunt's budget architect, Mike Keathley, declined to provide a specific dollar amount targeted for cuts.

He asked for more spending than the state could afford and will trim some programs to bring the budget in line with revenue, and we at DMB 2008 laud him for tailoring the budget to what the state can currently afford. We would prefer, actually, that he spend less than the state can afford and return the remainder to the taxpayers through the wonder that is the Hancock Amendment.

But we will take a principled, fiscally conservative governor in any event. And if we have our way, we'll elevate him to a principled, fiscally conservative President of the United States.