What power does the governor have regarding the appropriations bill?

The governor holds the power to approve or veto individual items within the appropriations bill, a process often referred to as line-item veto authority. This allows the governor to selectively eliminate specific expenditures while allowing the rest of the bill to pass into law. This power is significant as it enables the governor to exercise discretion over budgetary allocations, ensuring that funds are directed according to the administration's priorities without entirely rejecting the entire appropriations bill.

Other options suggest broader powers that do not align with the constitutional authority of the governor. The ability to change the entire bill or to rewrite it completely would imply a legislative function which is not within the purview of the executive branch. Similarly, stating that the governor can only approve the bill as is disregards the important checks and balances intended in the budgetary process. Thus, the power to veto specific items provides the governor with a mechanism to influence state budgeting effectively while maintaining the integrity of the democratic process.