LFB director Bob Lang gave the committee a quick overview of the veto process. For this budget bill, the vetoes would be taken up first in the Assembly, which is the house of origin for the bill.

An two-thirds majority of those present is required to override a veto, Lang said. In the Assembly, assuming all members are present, it would require 66 votes.

A veto override can only move to the other house if it passes the house of origin.

Rep. Vos asks co-chair Rep. Pocan if veto overrides are being considered or if "this is just kind of an exercise in something that's not going to happen."

Pocan says he's not aware of any vetoes being discussed. A spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan said yesterday that no overrides are expected.

Pocan did ask, by way of example, how an override would be handled for an item like a position being eliminated through a veto. (Note: Lt. Gov. Lawton had a position that was approved by the JFC and Legislature vetoed out of the budget by Doyle.)

Lang said that an override would have to include a package to restore the position and the funding.

-- By Greg Bump