St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, Petitioners v. Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Governor

Summary

The court held that the Governor’s constitutional line-item authority permits him to further reduce appropriations that the Legislature previously reduced in a midyear budget bill. Because the challenged provisions specified definite spending amounts for particular purposes, they remained items of appropriation subject to gubernatorial reduction, and the Governor’s action was a constitutionally authorized negative limitation on spending rather than an impermissible exercise of legislative power. The court affirmed the denial of the writ of mandate.