DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says an agreement with Attorney General Tom Miller's prompted her to use a line-item veto to strike down part of a justice system spending bill. Under the now-vetoed provision, Miller would only have been allowed to join national lawsuits if requested to do so by the Legislature, Executive Council or the Governor.
Reynolds says she and Miller have agreed that if he wants to join a lawsuit on behalf of the state of Iowa, he needs to consult with the governor first. He doesn't have to get the governor's OK to file suits when the Iowa Attorney General is the plaintiff.
The Republican-controlled Legislature passed the bill saying Miller, a Democrat, was joining partisan lawsuits NOT in the best interest of Iowans.
The agreement is only in effect as long as Tom Miller is the state's Attorney General.