Prominent lawmaker to sue Governornator

A prominent California lawmaker said he plans to file suit against Governor Schwarzenegger, claiming he abused his executive power.

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg said the governor overstepped his constitutional authority when he made line-item vetoes to the budget revision bill in July.

"We elected a governor, not an emperor," Steinberg said. "The governor forced punishing cuts on children, the disabled and patients that he could not fairly win at the bargaining table."

Steinberg said the cuts violate the separations of powers principle in the California constitution.

Governor Schwarzenegger's press secretary Aaron McLear said the governor did what was necessary to help the state.

The suit will be filed in San Francisco Superior Court next week. More