Government of Student Body President Mike Banasiak announced to the senate Wednesday his decision to veto a bill that would have given money to fund biodiesel fuel for CyRide.

The “Soybeans Save Lives” bill would have allocated $4,000 to the GSB president’s office to disperse to CyRide in order to help promote its experimental transition toward using soy-based biodiesel fuel.

The veto marks the second time Banasiak used his executive power to stop a bill during his year in office. The first came last fall when he stopped a funding bill for Engineers Without Frontiers, after questions were raised about whether or not the group constituted a preprofessional organization.

Banasiak’s decision was supported by the bill’s author and chief supporter, Drew Miller.

Miller said several issues have recently come to light, chiefly a large deficit in available allocations to student group requests, which have made it necessary for GSB to tighten its belt.

“I’m not disappointed,” Miller said. “Given the change in circumstances from what [CyRide director Bob Bourne] told us when we began looking into the issue, I think it’s not critical to give them the money right now. It’s critical to fund student groups.”

Banasiak cited several reasons for vetoing the bill, including that CyRide currently has both the money and the intent to go ahead with a biodiesel trial program this spring, and that the program would not require GSB funds until fall. He said he made the final veto decision after speaking with Bourne and Miller on the issue the morning of the meeting.

“Bourne said he’d be more comfortable coming back to GSB in the fall with information from the trial before they make their final decision,” Banasiak said. “I think that this way the senate will be able to make a more informed decision on the issue as well.”

Shawn Montague, GSB business and transportation senator, said he supported Banasiak’s decision.

“I’m excited about it,” he said. “I know we can take better consideration of it and make a smarter decision next year.”

The issue is planned to be discussed again next fall, when Banasiak said he hopes the trial program and leftover fuel from spring will create a buffer for GSB.