'I'm giving back power.' Aftab Pureval backs plan to kill pocket veto

Seven years ago, a group tasked with reviewing Cincinnati's charter recommended eliminating one of Cincinnati mayor's special powers: the pocket veto.

From time to time the idea was discussed but never implemented.

Now Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval and several council members say it's time to kill the pocket veto. And they plan to ask voters to do it in a charter amendment on the November ballot.

Is it a problem now? No. But it could be, the trio say. A pocket veto occurs when the mayor kills legislation by not referring it to council. It's not expressly written into the charter, but it can happen because the mayor sets the agenda under the charter.

Pureval announced the charter amendment Tuesday morning at Sawyer Point in front of the statue of Cincinnatus, the city's namesake and Roman general who relinquished power after achieving victory in the battlefield.

"Today, I'm giving back power to the charter," said Pureval. He was flanked in his announcement by city council members Meeka Owens, Mark Jeffreys and Jeff Cramerding.

"I want to be clear while the mayor's power of referral might not be the kind of thing most people are thinking about, when it comes to how local government can impact their lives, this is a meaningful and important action," Pureval said.

Since taking office in January, Pureval has referred all legislation. Former Mayor John Cranley also touted that he always referred all legislation. But having the power not to refer it can lead to back-room dealings, with those in control seeking to make changes with the threat that if they're not made, they would not refer the legislation. Former Mayor Mark Mallory would hold legislation he didn't think was a good idea.

So Pureval, Jeffreys and Cramerding are putting forward a charter amendment that eliminates the power to hold legislation. It's expected to garner approval from council this week and be on the ballot this November. The group will also ask the law department to review the rules of council, making sure other rules don't delay referral of legislation.

"With the pocket veto the mayor has ultimate control over council," Jeffreys said. "This is the best time to do it because the mayor and council have a good relationship. It's not being done out of any personal vindictive or slight to the mayor. It's being done because it's good government. It's good today. It's good 100 years from now. "

This charter amendment, Jeffreys added, would "avoid potential abuse."

Under the charter, the mayor sets the agenda; council has the final vote. The charter amendment would require the mayor to refer legislation to a council committee for discussion within four, regularly scheduled meetings. Then, the committee chairperson must put the item on the agenda within four, regularly scheduled meetings.

Tom Brinkman, a Republican state representative from Mount Lookout, had proposed eliminating the pocket veto as part of a 2021 charter amendment containing what he billed as sweeping reforms, but voters said no.

The Charter Review Task Force in July 2015, said eliminating the pocket veto, "would greatly improve governmental transparency and accountability to the public with respect to action (or inaction) within the city's government on legislative proposals."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Charter amendment would eliminate pocket veto