JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Gov. Jay Nixon has vetoed legislation that would have changed the procedure for filling vacancies in the lieutenant governor's office.
State law currently allows the governor to appoint a replacement if the secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, auditor or a U.S. senator leaves office. But there has been uncertainty about how the lieutenant governor would be replaced.
Under the legislation, a replacement would have been selected during the next general election. In the meantime, the departing officeholder's top aide would have performed the lieutenant governor's ministerial duties. Responsibilities as Senate president would have been handled by the Senate president pro tem, who is a state senator.
Nixon said Friday the measure created a "confusing and untenable process."
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Lieutenant governor vacancy is HB110.
Online:
Nixon: http://www.moga.mo.gov
Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov