Gov. Haley Barbour had no legal authority to veto parts of two budget bills, Attorney General Jim Hood says.

"Ignorance of the law is no excuse," Hood said Thursday.

Barbour's spokesman could not immediately be reached for response.

In the past few days, the governor vetoed parts of two spending bills - one for the attorney general's office and one for the Department of Human Services. The vetoes covered the same money, $5.5 million that was to be diverted from DHS to the attorney general's office for youth programs.

Since 2000, similar diversions have been made from DHS to the attorney general's office, and the money has gone to Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCAs and similar programs.

Hood said the Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled as recently as 2004 that a governor does not have the power to veto parts of budget bills that put conditions on how money can be spent. 

The bills are House Bills 1681 and 1689.