Lame-duck Gov. Sonny Perdue unleashed his veto pen at Cobb County's expense on Tuesday. The governor, who leaves office at year's end and no longer has to worry about the personal political consequences of what he does, killed funding that had been approved by the Legislature for Kennesaw State University and for the rebuilding of Clarkdale Elementary School in Austell, which had been inundated during last September's 1,000-year flood.

The Legislature had agreed to spend $6.4 million for infrastructure improvements at KSU to help alleviate traffic problems at the Chastain Road/I-75 interchange, which links the school's main campus with its athletic facilities and new stadium.

But the governor, in his veto statement, declared that the project would be "more appropriately evaluated, programmed and funded through the Georgia Department of Transportation."

In other words, the money was coming out of the wrong pocket, according to the governor. One suspects that had the funding originated with the DOT, the governor would have declared it should have come from the Education Department.

As for the Clarkdale school, the governor noted that the $2 million in bonds to help with its reconstruction had not been requested by the Education Department.

Perdue's vetoes did not sit well with Cobb legislators, not even those of his own party.

State Rep. Earl Ehrhart (R-Powder Springs), made a dig at Perdue's presence this week in Cuba, where he is on a junket trying to drum up a new market for Georgia chickens.

"The illegal Cuban cigars (Perdue) has been smoking have done something to his brain cells," Ehrhart groused.

And state Rep. Don Parson (R-east Cobb), noted that the Legislature was elected to decide where state money should be spent, not the governor.

Cobb school officials said they will shift SPLOST money around to ensure the school is rebuilt, but added that means that other SPLOST construction projects will have to be set aside.

Moreover, Ehrhart pointed out that even as he was vetoing the money for Cobb's schools, the governor was signing off on funding for a new building at the University of Georgia veterinary school - money that was not channeled through the state Department of Education.

"Breathtaking hypocrisy," Ehrhart called it. "Anything for him is OK. If it's Oaky Woods or any of those deals he does, it's OK. Sonny Perdue is on his way out the door, thank goodness. He's a petty child. ... Cobb County does not kowtow to him, therefore he seeks his revenge."

The legislator also added the possibility that Perdue's vetoes were motivated by the fact that the Democrats' front-runner to succeed him, Roy Barnes, is from Cobb County.

"He can't see straight when it comes to Roy Barnes," Ehrhart said - adding he plans to work to see that UGA building named after Barnes, not, as expected, after Perdue. That, indeed, would be a just outcome.

In the meantime, speaking of veterinary medicine and animals, rest assured that Perdue's vetoes in these two cases smell like something normally shoveled out of a barn.