[41 Pa.B. 3962]
[Saturday, July 23, 2011]Notice of Veto July 8, 2011
To the Honorable House of Representatives
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:I am returning, without my approval, House Bill 1696, Printer's No. 2260. I regret having to do so. However, I have concluded that the bill, as it is written, is Constitutionally infirm.
Specifically, Article III, Section 32 of our Constitution states, in pertinent part,
The General Assembly shall pass no local or special law in any case which has been or can be provided for by general law and specifically the General Assembly shall not pass any local or special law.
1. Regulating the affairs of counties, cities, townships, wards, boroughs, or school districts . . .
By limiting a property tax moratorium to counties of the fourth class, with a population between 185,000 and 210,000 as of the 2010 United States Census, the bill has restricted its application to one county—Washington County.
After consulting with legal counsel, including the Office of Attorney General, there is no question in my mind that the bill, as worded, would violate the State Constitution.
Consequently, pursuant to Article IV, Section 15, I am returning House Bill 1696, Printer's No. 2260 with my noted objection.
Governor
(Editor's Note: This veto was received in the House of Representatives on July 8, 2011.)
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 11-1213. Filed for public inspection July 22, 2011, 9:00 a.m.]
