Veto session makes governor most overridden in almost two centuries

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri House and Senate overrode a record number of vetoes on Wednesday, making Gov. Jay Nixon the most overriden governor in almost two centuries.

Legislators overturned 10 vetoes, the highest one-year total in 180 years. In 1833, lawmakers overrode 12 vetoed bills granting divorces but the constitution at the time only required a simple majority vote. Since the switch to a two-thirds majority, the single-year record was three overrides in 2003.

Two controversial vetoes that the Republican-controlled legislature failed to overturn were are a tax cut bill and a gun-related bill.

An income tax bill would have reduced income tax rates for some taxpayers over a ten-year period. The annual reduction would only have taken effect if state revenues increased by at least $100 million over the three previous years.

The tax bill also would have decreased corporate income tax rates.

Nixon and Attorney General Chris Koster said if legislators overrode the tax bill veto, taxpayers could potentially seek refunds from three previous tax years. They said that could put a $1.2 billion hole in the state budget. Nixon withheld $400 million from the state budget in anticipation of an override and has since released the majority of those funds.

A gun-related bill would have voided federal gun control laws, criminalized the enforcement of federal gun control regulations, banned newspapers from publishing the names of gun owners and allowed designated school personnel to carry concealed weapons.

Nixon vetoed the gun bill because he said the nullification of gun laws unnecessary, unconstitutional and unsafe.

Of the 10 overriden vetoes, two affect local government. One bill, HB278, bans local government from prohibiting or restricting a celebration of any federal holiday on government property. The second bill, HB1035, allows a city to annex an area without a local public vote, including residents living in the area to be annexed.

The General Assembly overrode eight other vetoes:

SB 9 allows non-US companies to hold up to one-percent interest in farm land in Missouri. The Senate overrode the veto 23-10 and the House 111-50.
SB 110 restricts a court's ability to change parental rights of a parent on military assignment. The Senate overrode the veto 25-9 and the House 109-52.
SB 129 allows licensed health care professionals to provide volunteer services in Missouri to a sponsored organization. The Senate overrode the veto 25-9 and the House 108-53.
SB170 allows members of public government to cast votes by video conference. The Senate overrode the veto 31-3 and the House 125-32.
HB 19 grants $1 million to rebuild a technical school in Pike County. The House overrode the veto 112-47 and the Senate 28-5.
HB 278 was overriden by the House with a vote of 114-45 and the Senate 24-9.
HB 329 raises the maximum interest a creditor can charge on small consumer loans such as payday loans. It also modifies other financial institution law. The House overrode the veto 109-51 and the Senate 25-9.
HB 339 restricts damage awards in an auto accident lawsuit by an uninsured driver. Restrictions do not apply to insured drivers in an auto accident under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The House overrode the veto 109-51 and the Senate 26-8.
HB 650 protects a lead mining company from pollution lawsuits. The House overrode the veto 110-50 and the Senate 26-8.
HB 1035 was overriden by the House with a vote of 117-44 and the Senate 26-8.

The bills will go into effect 30 days after the veto session, on Oct. 10, 2013.