Barnes v. Secretary of Administration

The plaintiffs commenced this action in the Supreme Judicial Court for the county of Suffolk challenging the Governor’s veto of more than one-half of the fiscal year 1992 appropriation for the Emergency Assistance (EA) program established by G. L. c. 18, § 2 (D) (1990 ed.). The plaintiffs sought a declaration pursuant to G. L. c. 231A (1990 ed.) that the veto exceeded the permissible limits of the Governor’s power under art. 63, § 5, of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution and violated the doctrine of separation of powers. The plaintiffs also sought an injunction to prevent the…