Commonwealth Ex Rel. Armstrong v. Collins

STEPHENS, Chief Justice.

The basic issue we address is to what extent, if any, the General Assembly of the Commonwealth may, in adopting a budget bill and based on the financial condition of the Commonwealth provide therein for the reduction, elimination and transfer of appropriated funds, and for all practical purposes, provide as a result thereof, that the effectiveness of certain existing statutes is temporarily modified.

BACKGROUND

At its regular session in 1984, the General Assembly passed a biennial budget.1 *439This document appropriated the revenue for the Commonwealth and determined how…