Members of the Missouri House stood in defense of Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens Wednesday as we overturned dozens of the governor’s decisions to veto funding to vital state services. I consider the day a huge victory for Missouri families and businesses as the Missouri General Assembly overrode the governor’s vetoes of spending items for education, health care, senior services and economic development, as well as many other vital programs.
I have said all along that the governor has made the wrong choices in where to cut money from this budget and I still believe these cuts were unneeded and meant to put political pressure on the votes cast during veto session. While he and his state agencies spend thousands of dollars on Sirius Satellite Radio, memberships to the National Goat Association and out of state travel, he vetoes vital funding to help victims of sexual assault, children with autism, or any of a number extremely deserving programs. It’s all about priorities, and Governor Nixon’s fiscal priorities continue to be different than my constituents.
“Cut the junkets, spend the money on the kids.” said House Majority Leader John Diehl, R-Town & Country.
How historic was this session?
The Missouri General Assembly had a historic veto session again this year, overriding yet another record number of vetoed bills and budget line vetoes—10 bills in total (plus 1 during session) and 47 Budget Lines. A look back at the history of Missouri only goes to further illustrate the significance of overriding ten vetoes. In fact, from 1855 till 1976 there were no vetoes overridden. And since 1976 until this year there have been only 18 overridden vetoes 10 of which happened last year.
Governor Nixon is, in fact, the most overridden Missouri governor in history after last year’s historic veto session and now has become not only the most overridden governor in state history but more overridden than all Missouri governors added together! No small feat considering Missouri was founded as a state in 1821 and has had a total of fifty-five governors.
Another important fact that helps to drive home the historic nature of this veto session is that before the constitution of 1875 was changed, to override a veto only required a simple majority instead of the two-thirds that is required today
Of course, while the substance of particular bills is important, history is written as wins and loses! This year once again was a historic victory of wins over losses!
There were, of course, important bills that failed to garner the necessary votes to override a veto. But while we in the legislature can come back next session and work on these very close issues that didn’t make it this session, the Governor cannot erase the ten overrides that will forever mark his record.
Yet neither the significance of the veto itself nor the responsibility of the legislature to check the executive branch should be diminished by just a win/loss record. Whether a governor vetos a bill passed by the people’s representatives is a decision that should be weighed heavily, but when they do and make the wrong decision, it is up to the legislature to address grievous errors of judgment.
I was proud to have been a part of such a historically significant event in Missouri history and will continue to serve the interests of the citizens of Southwest Missouri.
The Details
In total the House and Senate combined to override 47 budget line-item vetoes, which authorize more than $53 million in state spending. I am particularly pleased with the overrides of vetoed spending items that directly help Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens. Below are highlighted the following items that are now set to receive funding despite the governor’s objections:
$1.45 million to provide forensic exams for physically abused children
$400,000 for Area Agencies on Aging – At Home Meals for Senior Citizens Program
$500,000 to provide assistance to victims of sexual assault
$2.5 million for intensive reading instruction program for kids in failing school districts
$150,000 for the Bright Futures Program that empowers communities to meet the needs of their children
$400,000 for a Math and Science Tutoring Program in St. Louis City
$500,000 in aid to Sheltered Workshops
$100,000 for a mentoring program for the children of inmates
$1.3 million for programs to help children with Autism
$948,381 for a Medicaid waiver for individuals with brain injuries
$125,000 for services for Missourians with Alzheimer’s
$5.2 million for services to Missourians with asthma
“These are just a few of the priority items we fought for and the governor worked so hard to deny to the people of Missouri,” added Speaker Pro-Tem Hoskins, R-Warrensburg. “This is an enormous victory for Missourians in all parts of the state from all walks of life. My hope is that the governor will follow our lead by allowing these programs to receive these dollars rather than using his normal tactic of immediately withholding the funds. The people of Missouri deserve a leader who has their best interests at heart.”
This link will take you to the historic 47 Line item successful Bipartisan Veto Overrides passed yesterday by the Missouri Legislature.
http://mointra/sites/Appropriations/docs/override%20summary%209-11%20revised%20w%20Senate%20Action.pdf
In addition to the budget line items, the following bills were also overridden:
HB 1132 - Changes the laws regarding a tax credit for contributions to a maternity home, pregnancy resource center, or a food pantry.
http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB1132&year=2014&code=R
HB 1307 - Changes the minimum waiting period before a woman can have an abortion from 24 hours to 72 hours.
http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB1307&year=2014&code=R
SB 523 - Prohibits school districts from requiring a student to use an identification device that uses radio frequency identification technology to transmit certain information.
http://www.senate.mo.gov/14info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=27723543
SB 593 - Modifies provisions relating to nonpartisan elections.
http://www.senate.mo.gov/14info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=27723626
SB 656 - Modifies the live fire exercise and testing requirements to obtain a concealed carry permit.
http://www.senate.mo.gov/14info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=28098814
SB 727 - Creates a sales and use tax exemption for farm products sold at a farmers' market.
http://www.senate.mo.gov/14info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=28333023
SB 731 - Modifies provisions relating to nuisance ordinances and actions.
http://www.senate.mo.gov/14info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=28374854
SB 829 - Modifies provisions relating to burden of proof in tax liability cases with the Department of Revenue.
http://www.senate.mo.gov/14info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=29548976
SB 841 - Modifies provisions relating to alternative nicotine or vapor products (e-cigarettes).
http://www.senate.mo.gov/14info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=29624824
SB 866 - Preempts local laws that would modify current law governing the manner in which traditional installment loan lenders are allowed to make loans.
http://www.senate.mo.gov/14info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=30182440
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