Lipscomb v. State Bd. of Higher Ed.

In 1921, the Governor’s veto power under the Oregon Constitution was amended to include, besides single items in appropriation bills, “any provision in new bills declaring an emergency, without thereby affecting any other provision of such bill.” The present dispute concerns whether the quoted words empower the Governor to veto only an emergency clause or any provision of a bill if the bill contains such a clause.

In 1983, the Legislative Assembly passed Senate Bill 137, which made certain changes in the Public Employes’ Retirement System (PERS). One section amended an existing provision (ORS…