The power of spending may not solely lie with the governor
From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

 MDN.ORG Mo. Digital News Missouri Digital News MDN.ORG: Mo. Digital News MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
Lobbyist Money Help  

The power of spending may not solely lie with the governor

Date: October 21, 2014
By: Michael Lindquist
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HJR 72

Intro: 
On Nov. 4, Missourians will have a chance to change the way the state spends its money.
RunTime:  0:47
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Amendment Ten, on the ballot for the November Fourth election, would allow lawmakers to overturn a governor's withholding.

Representative Chris Kelly says he opposes the amendment and says with its approval, balancing the budget would be harder to do.

Actuality:  KELLY1.WAV
Run Time:  00:19
Description: "The way it changes for the people of Missouri is that it makes an unbalanced budget much, much more likely. The governor's withholds mechanism is the way that we in Missouri ensure a balanced budget, we have done so for many years."

Representative T.J. Berry supports the amendment and says it's the governor's abuse of his power that is causing the need for an improved system of checks and balances.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Michael Lindquist.

Intro: 
Amendment Ten, on the November Fourth ballot, would give power to lawmakers to override the governor's withholdings.
RunTime:  0:54
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: In a Missouri Supreme Court case, Governor Jay Nixon was given broad and unrestrained powers to restrict spending put forth by the General Assembly.

Amendment 10 - pending voter approval - would change that. Lawmakers would have the power to override the governor allowing funds to be released for appropriations.

Representative T.J. Berry supports the amendment and says it's the governor's abuse of power that is causing the need for an improved system of checks and balances.

Actuality:  BERRY1.WAV
Run Time:  00:15
Description: "Our current governor has taken the powers that he needs to have, as far as he needs to be able to control the budget, and he has taken those powers and used them strictly for a tool of political necessity and means."

Representative Chris Kelly opposes the amendment and says he attributes the balancing of the budget to the governor's withholding power.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Michael Lindquist.  

Intro: 
Missourians will have a say in the way the Missouri legislature spends money in the November Fourth election.
RunTime:  1:01
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Amendment Ten - pending voter approval - would give Missouri lawmakers the power to override Governor Jay Nixon's withholdings. A Missouri Supreme Court case gave Nixon broad and unrestrained powers to restrict spending put forth by the General Assembly.

Representative T.J. Berry supports the amendment and says it's the governor's abuse of his power that is causing the need for an improved system of checks and balances.

He also says the additional power given by this amendment is necessary because of Nixon's inability to lead.

Actuality:  BERRY2.WAV
Run Time:  00:19
Description: "The reason why this governor has been overridden so much is his unwillingness to lead...If he would engage with us in January - sit down and actually talk about where we have things in common and where we can work together, this governor could achieve a tremendous amount."

Representative Chris Kelly opposes the amendment and says he attributes the balancing of the budget to the governor's withholding power.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Michael Lindquist