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Will California Lawmakers Ever Again Override A Veto?

Governor Jerry Brown vetoed more than 130 bills this year – and none of those vetoes is expected to be overturned by the California Legislature.

State lawmakers haven’t overturned a veto since the last time Brown was governor, in 1980. And the Legislature hasn’t even voted on a veto override since 2003.

Former Assembly Speaker John Pérez says that’s an example of how term limits shifted power from the legislative to the executive.

“Quite frankly, the veto override is a legislative muscle, and it is one that unfortunately can atrophy through lack of use,” he said.

Pérez says the Legislature should flex that muscle from time to time. Sacramento State political analyst Steve Boilard says he thinks that could happen – eventually.

“I’m wondering, moving forward, if we had a less powerful, less well-positioned governor that the Legislature might in fact be tempted to make use of a veto override,” Boilard said.

He points to a new crop of state lawmakers who have publicly stated their desire for the Legislature to reclaim some of its power from the executive branch.

This story was produced by Capital Public Radio.