Gov. Linda Lingle today vetoed 41 bills and state House and Senate Democrats agreed to override 13 of those vetoes in a one-day special session.

The veto overrides included bills creating an Early Learning Council to develop an early-childhood education system, allowing permanent absentee voting, and expanding a cargo fee on imports to help cover the costs of inspections for invasive species. The bills will now become law.

The governor's vetoes will stand on bills that would have established a commission to consider whether to close or consolidate public schools, created a task force to study medical marijuana, and allowed homeowners the right to dry their washed clothes on clotheslines.

In a significant split among majority Democrats, the Senate agreed to override 33 bills and four of Lingle's line-item vetoes. The House, however, only agreed to 13 and one of the governor's line-item vetoes not considered by the Senate. It takes two-thirds' votes in both changes to override vetoes.

In all, when counting the bills Lingle vetoed during the legislative session, the governor rejected a record 53 bills this year along with five line-item vetoes that will stand. The House and Senate overrode a total of 17 of the governor's vetoes this year.

Lingle's veto list is posted online at http://hawaii.gov/gov/leg/2008-session.