Updated: On the Records: Vetoes — Then and Now

Update, 5:00 p.m.: Both of these data visualizations have been updated to reflect the 24 vetoes issued today by Gov. Rick Perry.

Gov. Rick Perry knows the power of the veto. Perry, who has served as governor longer than anyone else, has also vetoed more bills than any other Texas governor. This session he’s only vetoed one bill, so far. The veto deadline for the 82^nd legislative session — June 19 — is quickly approaching, and Perry is expected to announce his vetoes at any moment.  

The pie chart below shows the 10 Texas governors who vetoed the most bills. Perry earned the top spot with 249 vetoes. The recently deceased former Gov. Bill Clements vetoed the second-largest number of bills, 192. Former Gov. Francis Lubbock, who served from 1861 to 1863 before resigning to join the Confederate Army, vetoed the smallest number of bills: one. The only bill he vetoed would have reimbursed the cost of travel for members and officers of the 9th legislature — a common practice these days. 

Use the graph below to see the number of bills vetoed each legislative session. By rolling over the columns, you can see the name of the governor, the legislative session, year and the total number of bills vetoed. (According to the disclaimer provided by Legislative Reference Library, this data set is a work in progress. For more information, see here.)