Occasionally we run across little nuances and quirks in government that should cause us to stop and think … maybe even ask a few questions.

One such element of government in our state has to do with how a bill becomes law. Once passed by both House and Senate, it’s sent to the governor for his signature, or his veto.

This week, Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a very controversial bill that had been passed onto him. It was one disguised as a freedom of religion bill.

He was correct in his veto. 

That said, it’s the process that we’re talking about here. If our governor doesn’t sign a bill or veto it, then it becomes law by default. In other words, a governor can allow by a bill to become law by never putting ink on the paper. Is that a good thing?

Should not the top elected official in our state be required to say “yes” or “no.” After all, most of them run on platforms that include the planks of tenacity,  integrity and transparency when it comes to making hard decisions.

Isn’t allowing a bill to become law by default sort of like Pilate washing his hands of the crucifixion. 

For the governor, history will only record his actions, not so much his inactions.

In a football game, a quarterback has to execute the play whether he agrees with the game plan or not. And the whole world can watch him do it. He may have an option to the play, depending on how he reads the defense, but his voice will dictate the next move. Should not the governor of our state be just as visible in the process of making laws?

Even the phraseology of “law by default” sounds suspect on its best day. 

Certainly some of these decisions are really tough ones, but let’s bring up some more phraseology that typically peppers our political processes: “The buck stops here.”

Probably few people give this item much thought. It’s always been that way, and maybe it’s worked more times than it has failed.

But when we get right down to the meat in the soup and we’re talking about accountability and integrity, shouldn’t this little  item create some serious discussion?