Undergraduate Student Government President Brendan O’Kelly vetoed a bill Thursday that would have authorized a student vote on a fee to support Arizona Public Interest Research Group.

The bill was an attempt to set the language for a referendum establishing a $1.50 fee per student, per semester.

O’Kelly said he vetoed the bill based on the message the language sent to students.

“The wording was completely misleading,” he said.

In a letter to students, O’Kelly said tens of thousands of dollars would go to national dues and operations for PIRG, but the description of PIRG in the bill did not disclose this information.

“The description leads the question toward support regardless of a student’s original inclination,” he said. “When I read this, I think to myself, ‘What student wants to go on the record opposing a $1.50 per semester fee to end hunger and homelessness?’”

Organizations seeking a student fee in the past have had to gain support from the community first, and this case should be no different, he said.

Reach the reporter at adam.sneed@asu.edu