Our Opinion: Thumb-biting vetoes leave deep wounds

"I will bite my thumb at them; which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it."

- From Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon and the Republican-controlled Legislature - like modern-day Montagues and Capulets - are biting their thumbs at each other.

The governor's thumb-biting Tuesday took the form of $1.1 billion in spending cuts - including $847 million in withholdings and $276 million in budget vetoes.

Nixon wanted to send a strong message and gain leverage as the September veto session nears.

Vetoes have become the go-to weapon for a governor largely at odds with majority lawmakers. We sided with the GOP on their tax cut, which surmounted a veto during the session, but support the governor's vetoes of end-of-session, GOP budget cuts.

Nixon's vetoes Tuesday may prove to be a miscalculation - an over-reaction to GOP over-reach on budget cuts.

Why?

Because the governor can undo the freezes and withholdings, but only an override by lawmakers can restore vetoed funding.

And Tuesday's vetoes have created disappointment.

Let's look specifically at Jefferson City.

Nixon vetoed funding: to renovate the St. Mary's Health Center complex for use by Lincoln University and Linn State Technical College; for a student wellness center at LU; and for a state employee compensation study. He also announced an additional 260 jobs cuts and closure of a number of state offices.

Disappointment was a universal reaction among local government, education and business officials. Those officials - who must continue to work with the governor - tempered their comments by acknowledging budget constraints.

Republican State Rep. Jay Barnes was more candid, and more accurate, when he said Nixon was "using his budget powers as a bludgeon."

In Shakespeare's play, thumb-biting leads to swordplay and, eventually, to bloodshed.

In Jefferson City, and elsewhere in Missouri, progress is wounded by the governor's vetoes.

We echo the words of the character Benvolio, who called on the combatants: "Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do."

- The News Tribune