03/17/1993 09:10 AM Senate STA

  SENATOR  LEMAN  announced  SJR  23  (LEGISLATIVE   AUDITOR'S                 
  POWERS) to be up for consideration.                                          
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE   RANDY   PHILLIPS,   sponsor,    said   that                 
  Legislative  Audit  needed  some authority  to  enforce  the                 
  recommendations of the audits.                                               
                                                                               
  Number 298                                                                   
                                                                               
  MR. WELKER  said this  resolution proposes some  substantial                 
  changes to the  constitution.  He  views this language as  a                 
  tool of last  resort in any  kind of perceived action  taken                 
  under the authority of this provision.                                       
                                                                               
                                                                               
  SENATOR RANDY PHILLIPS  added that should the  auditor abuse                 
  his  powers, he can be removed  by the legislature as a full                 
  body or by the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee.                       
                                                                               
  Number 338                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR DUNCAN said instead  of putting this totally  on the                 
  legislative  auditor,  the  legislature wants  to  remain in                 
  control.  You might  allow the impoundment of funds  after a                 
  recommendation made by the  legislative auditor, approved by                 
  a majority of  the legislative  budget and audit  committee.                 
  He noted the Budget  and Audit Committee might not  meet for                 
  several months, and  a legislative  auditor could decide  in                 
  May and decide there  should be an impoundment of  funds and                 
  do it.  One individual should not have that authority.  Some                 
  check is needed on the auditor, also.                                        
                                                                               
  Number 379                                                                   
                                                                               
  CHRIS CHRISTIANSON, Office  of the Governor, said  he wasn't                 
  here to oppose the bill.  He said he was concerned that this                 
  might upset  the delicate  balance of  power that  currently                 
  exists.  He anticipates when the  auditor issues an order to                 
  the Governor for  impoundment, if  the the Governor  doesn't                 
  like that, the Attorney General would write an opinion which                 
  says it doesn't apply in that case.                                          
                                                                               
  Number 412                                                                   
                                                                               
  SENATOR  DUNCAN  pointed   out  an   area  he  thought   was                 
  inconsistent where an  auditor can impound, but  the release                 
  of that impoundment order by a vote of the legislature could                 
  cause some difficulty,  because they only meet  4 months out                 
  of the year.  He didn't want to turn veto power  over to one                 
  individual who is not even an elected official.                              
                                                                               
  SENATOR  LEMAN said they would  discuss this resolution at a                 
  future time and adjourned the meeting at 9:40 a.m.