This past Wednesday marked the 188th veto session of the Missouri Legislature, designed by our founding fathers as an opportunity for both chambers to review legislation passed during the previous legislative session and subsequently vetoed by the governor. For the first 181 years, veto session was rarely more than a footnote to that year's legislative activity. This year, and the five others in which I have been involved, was quite different from the historical trend.
I have known Gov. Nixon for much longer than my political career, and I just do not understand his management style. Since assuming the office in January 2009, Gov. Nixon has vetoed more bills, and had those vetoes overridden, more than all previous governors combined. Success or failure is not determined by the number of vetoes or overrides, but they certainly do reflect the leadership style of the chief executive.
As a businessman and as a senator, I have found it preferable to be involved in the problem-solving process from the beginning - before the dust really begins to fly. Gov. Nixon's leadership style is different, in that he has not inserted himself into the problem-solving process (the legislative process) until after session has been completed via the prolific use of his veto pen. When the governor does not engage with the Legislature during the legislative process, it is easy to find cause for veto. Similarly, when the governor does not engage the Legislature during the legislative process and simply vetoes bills after-the-fact, it is easy to find cause to override those vetoes.
In total, 13 vetoed bills received the required two-thirds majorities in both chambers to be overridden during Wednesday's veto session. Two of these 13 bills received the preponderance of press coverage, but all 13 are significant and important for Missourians.
I voted for Senate Bill 656, commonly known as "the Gun Bill," during both the regular session and veto session because I believe that the Constitution means what it says. Missourians have the right to arm and defend themselves and their families. Woeful predictions about Missouri descending into chaos and becoming the Wild West are nothing more than scare tactics. Even the attorney general, the state's chief law enforcement officer, said he found no reason to veto the bill. Responsible firearm ownership and use is an important and protected right. With the override of SB656, Missourians will be able to exercise this right without unnecessary permission from the state.
Thanks to the hard work and leadership of Sen. Will Kraus and Rep. Justin Alferman, the Legislature successfully overrode the governor's veto of HB1631, commonly known as "Voter ID." As was the case with the gun bill, opponents of this measure spared no imaginative effort in assessing the motives for the bill or predicting its effects. The fact of the matter is that Missourians have to show an ID to write a check at the store, to cash a check at the bank, to enter their child's school, to give blood and to do any number of mundane and ordinary things. This simple measure has one purpose and one purpose only: to protect the integrity of elections by ensuring the person casting a ballot is who they say they are. Recent election problems in St. Louis, as well as a tepid and inept response from the secretary of state, have further reduced public confidence in the state's election system. HB1631 is an important step toward restoring trust and confidence.
Two additional bills, SBs 641 and 844, provide common sense protections for the state's number one industry: agriculture. These bills ensure that farmers are not forced to pay additional taxes during disasters and protect their liability against ambulance chasing trial attorneys who file suit long before considering fault.
On Thursday, in response to the 13 veto overrides, the governor announced an additional $57-plus million in withholdings for this fiscal year. According to the governor, he had no choice but to withhold this money. This claim is absolutely false and is a poorly camouflaged attempt to hide personal pride and political retribution behind the guise of a policy decision.
As Missouri families well understand, every budget is about priorities, and the governor's priorities have been about growing entitlement spending at an unprecedented rate. Any potential budget effects from this veto session cannot and will not manifest themselves until future fiscal year budgets. Still the governor withholds now. This money, which could be used to educate students, improve foster care and adoption services, fix roads or advance agriculture in Missouri, will instead go into the bottomless pit of entitlement growth, most likely in the form of additional Medicaid expenses.
These withholds are a deliberate smokescreen by which the governor blames the Legislature for a problem that does not exist and then redirects your tax dollars away from children, schools and roads to increased entitlement spending. Missouri is not heading in the wrong direction because the crew is rowing the wrong way, it is heading in the wrong direction because the captain is steering the ship the wrong way.
Missourians are paying the price for a disengaged chief executive who is desperate for one more rung on the ladder of a career politician, this time in Washington D.C. as a member of a presidential cabinet.
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 the 6th District.