What significant action can a governor take regarding specific items in a funding bill?

The line item veto is a significant power that allows a governor to selectively veto specific portions of a funding bill, typically appropriations, without rejecting the entire bill. This means that the governor can approve some parts of the bill while disapproving others, which is particularly useful in managing state budgets and ensuring that only certain expenditures are funded. This power enhances the governor's ability to exert influence over the budgetary process and address specific fiscal concerns without entirely discarding legislative efforts.

In many states, the line item veto is a tool that promotes fiscal responsibility, as it enables governors to eliminate items that may be deemed unnecessary or excessive without obstructing funding for essential services and programs that the need should continue to operate effectively.