Pa. Senate Overides Rendell Veto Of School Code Bill
HARRISBURG (CBS) - The Pennsylvania Senate has completed a legislative override of a bill vetoed by Governor Rendell – the first and last override of Rendell's eight years in office.
The bill that now becomes law by virtue of the override makes numerous changes to the state's school code. But the override came despite a repeated pledge by Senate leaders not to vote on substantive legislation after the election.
Chester Republican Dominic Pileggi, the Senate majority leader, said this was different because an override is essentially a second vote on previously-passed legislation. Pileggi says, "The vote to override a governor's veto is different in substance than a vote on new legislation."
But Philadelphia Democrat Anthony Williams wasn't buying that argument. Williams says, "Splitting hairs, splitting the baby, describing it all different ways. It doesn't change the bottom line."
Governor Rendell had vetoed the bill because he objected to a provision giving property tax breaks to some who rent property to charter schools.
Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio
