Governor accused of abusing his power

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - State Senate Minority Leader Vi Simpson accused the governor of abusing his power Monday morning.

Simpson pointed to a letter from a public television station in Merrillville. It explains that more than a million dollars earmarked for public television was not distributed this year.

"They did not receive one third of their annual budget. They were called by the budget agency and told you're just not getting it and this language in the budget allows the governor to do that whenever he sees fit," said Simpson.

Simpson said the ability of Governor Mitch Daniels to block appropriations in the budget is more powerful than a line item veto.