Perspective: Two veto overrides outlined

Mike Kehoe
Mike Kehoe

As is inevitably the case, summer temperatures have arrived in Missouri. Quite frankly, I have not missed the heat or the humidity, but these next few months are filled with baseball, water, vacations and fun for many.

This summer is also marked by campaigns for many federal, state and local offices, making it all the more busy and interesting.

This past legislative session was the governor's final session, and like previous sessions, he has not hesitated to veto legislation. Similarly, the Legislature has been more than willing to override the governor's vetoes.

During the course of the just completed session, the Legislature overrode the governor on two occasions: SB586 and SCR46.

Senate Bill 586, sponsored by Sen. Jay Wasson, makes fully funding the state's K-12 Foundation Formula more likely because it modifies the formula to accurately reflect gaming revenues, rather than relying on estimates.

Missourians passed Proposition A in 2008 with assurances that removing loss limits would increase traffic at Missouri casinos and result in greatly increased revenue streams, thereby providing more money to education.

The Foundation Formula was modified in anticipation of increased gaming revenues, but these revenues failed to materialize. Since gaming revenues did not increase with the repeal of loss limits, and since the formula was modified in anticipation of the increased revenues that never materialized, there has been a significant disconnect between the theoretical and actual Foundation Formula dollars.

SB586 modifies the formula so that it uses actual gaming revenues rather than inaccurate estimates.

The governor vetoed SB586 on the pretense that it is takes money from the Foundation Formula, a formula he has vowed to fully fund since 2010 but has never done so.

This reasoning was parroted by the liberal urban media at the Post-Dispatch and the Star, but the reality is this doesn't take away any money because the money has never existed in the formula. It never came into the casinos and as such was never "in the bank." It was simply an estimate that never materialized. In passing SB586, the Legislature modified the formula to reflect actual casino revenues.

SB586 passed the Senate unanimously in early March, with bipartisan support even in the override vote.

The second override occurred on Senate Concurrent Resolution 46. SCR46 disapproved a rule promulgated by the Department of Health and Senior Services that would have obligated state revenues outside of the appropriations process. The merits of these funds was never the issue, but rather a fundamental concern about the separation of powers.

No state department should have the ability to obligate state money through the rule-making process because doing so circumvents the constitutional separation between the legislative and executive branches of government. The governor and his Department of Health and Senior Services knew better from the outset, yet chose to do so anyway.

Finally, I hope every father enjoyed a very happy Father's Day. We live in a world that too often down-plays and under-values the role of fathers. As someone who grew up without a dad, I know first-hand how gravely we err in doing so. I was very fortunate to have an older brother and Mr. Sinclair to fill some of that void and teach me what it means to be a man, and I am fortunate today to have a father-in-law who loves me like a son. I am thankful for the lessons each of these men have taught me and for the opportunity to be a father today.

My purpose and my intent is to serve the constituents of the 6th Senatorial District. If you are in the State Capitol during the coming weeks and months, please stop by your office in Room 321.

 

State Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, represents Missouri's 6th District.