Attorney General Opinion: Governor Does Have Some Emergency Spending Powers

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has given an Official Opinion today, saying that the Governor does have some emergency spending powers in the event of a budget impasse. You will note that the Opinion cites almost no Mississippi authorities. The closest thing to an analogous case is Hartford v State, which said that a Circuit Court could order the Board of Supervisors to provide funds for essential judicial functions. That, however, would imply that the Governor should seek a Court order to require the state treasury to continue paying certain department expenses. Will the Governor do that?

Here's the opinion letter, h/t to Christopher, a regular poster on Ipse Blogit.

Attorney General Opinion (June 26, 2009) on Emergency Spending Powers