LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman has used a line-item veto to strike $2.5 million in child welfare payments from a larger state claims bill.

Heineman confirmed his decision in a letter to the Legislature on Monday. The Republican governor argued that the payments would amount to unconstitutional special legislation, and said the bill would make taxpayers responsible for the debts of a private organization.

Omaha Sen. Steve Lathrop, chairman of the Legislature’s Business and Labor Committee, says he will file a motion to override the veto. Lathrop says the cases Heineman cited don’t apply to the current claims bill.

The payments were proposed to reimburse subcontractors that worked for the Boys and Girls Home, a private child welfare service provider that had a contract with the state. Lawmakers passed the bill, 42-4.