A proposed revision of the state’s foster care system has been vetoed by Governor Bob Holden, who says the bill is the product of hard work by a lot of people, but a bill that has too many provisions that would be setbacks, not improvements, in the foster care system. Holden says top legislative leaders have promised to fix some of the problems he has pinpointed, but he says he does not want to sign a bill with these problems and then see the Legislature fail to make the fixes. He says some of the things in the bill can be instituted right away through executive order. None of that reassures House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, who charges Holden with playing politics with the safety of children. Holden says his veto is not political. He says the plan, which has good intentions, has more uncertainties in it than he wants to see get into state law.
