OSPIRG supporters revelled as unexpected votes swung in favor of ASUO President Amelie Rousseau’s veto of the Athletics and Contracts Finance Committee budget during a special Senate meeting Tuesday night.
Sen. Kate Bidwell, who opted to oppose the group’s funding at an earlier meeting, cast a vote supporting the veto, which was followed by knocks ­­— the Senate’s gesture of approval — and whispers as audience members realized those in favor of an override might not make up the required supermajority.
Though there was a majority of senators supporting the override — 12-8 — it was not the two-thirds majority required to overturn a presidential veto.
Bidwell said she voted in support of the current budget in the last meeting regarding OSPIRG’s funding because she felt the ACFC could not accommodate OSPIRG financially. The senator said she supports the group receiving funding in light of its work for campus, which drove her to vote against the override.
“The internships they provide are a great asset to University,” Bidwell said. “It’s a long-term investment for society as a whole and works toward common sense solutions.”
When Sen. Grace Hochstatter voted to oppose the override, even though there were two remaining votes on the list, OSPIRG supporters clapped and cheered as they knew the veto would not be overridden.
Hochstatter said her vote Tuesday was based on two reasons. First, OSPIRG Board Chair Charles Denson has since suggested the contract can be amended to include setting OSPIRG’s campaigns by a biannual student popular vote. Second, she wants ACFC and Rousseau to explore more options not offered at the last meeting.
“Maybe we need to give it a try; maybe we can support this group,” Hochstatter said of the possibilities available now.
With a veto remaining unopposed by the Senate, it lands on the Senate and the ACFC to develop a budget that includes funding for OSPIRG. The options proposed by the committee for finding funds include transferring money from its contract with the athletic department and renegotiating its contract with Lane Transit District to find a lower per-student cost.
There was a short discussion about negotiation logistics, and Sen. Kaitlyn Lange gave a final pitch for overriding the veto before it was called to a vote.
“ACFC worked very, very hard; I take the veto very hard, I think the ACFC takes it hard too,” Lange said, before speaking directly to the ACFC members in the room. “This is saying, ‘Your work doesn’t count.’ If I were you, I would encourage you to resign and have a good spring term.”
Sen. Ian Fielding, the ACFC’s point person for the LTD contract, says he will work with Rousseau to renegotiate the bus service contract but has problems with resuming negotiations.
“I will do my job to try to negotiate a lower rate,” Fielding said. “I don’t think it’s very professional to negotiate in January then call them back in March, but if that’s what Senate votes on and that’s what the president decides, I don’t want to not do my job.”
[email protected]