Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto of School Funding Fix; Passes Voter ID Bill
In this second to last week of session, the Legislature has voted to preserve the integrity of our elections process and save Missouri’s K-12 foundation formula, which is currently underfunded by about $500 million.
Senate Bill 586 is legislation I sponsored to reestablish the 5 percent operating expenses cap contained in the original foundation formula bill in an effort to save the formula and provide Missouri’s school districts with the consistency and reassurance they need in order to efficiently allocate their resources and effectively educate our students. The measure also specifies that charter schools are eligible to receive early childhood education funding. Despite having enormous bipartisan support in both chambers, the governor vetoed SB 586 as expected on Tuesday.
What the governor doesn’t understand is this bill has the potential to not only protect the foundation formula, but also potentially fully fund it in just a couple of years. The money the governor says the schools will lose out on doesn’t exist today and won’t exist anytime in the future. We have continuously funded K-12 education at record levels and that won’t stop after this bill goes into effect. This measure will give schools the assurance and planning predictability they need so that they know how much money they can spend. By saving the formula, we will be able to allow it to increase more proportionately to the growth rate in Missouri instead of setting unrealistic expectations.
Thankfully, my Senate colleagues and I were prepared to immediately respond to the governor’s veto, which we did the very same day when we voted to override it. With the House’s successful veto override Thursday, I am very pleased to say SB 586 will go into effect on July 1, 2016 — the first day of the 2017 Fiscal Year.
In other legislative news, we also voted this week to send a voter ID bill to the governor. For the last 10 years, state lawmakers have been working to protect and strengthen the integrity of Missouri’s public elections by enacting voter ID legislation. This year’s effort is a common-sense approach that addresses previous constitutional concerns while also ensuring all citizens who are eligible and registered to vote will be able to do so.
Under House Bill 1631, Missouri citizens wishing to vote must present a valid form of government-issued ID, such as a non-expired Missouri driver’s license or non-expired military ID, at their polling location. In 2006, Missouri legislators successfully passed a voter ID bill, and it was subsequently signed into law; however, the state Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional before it could take effect. The ruling was based partly on the grounds that it imposed a cost on voting because although the state would provide free photo IDs, citizens would still be required to cover the costs of documents necessary to obtain an ID, such as a Social Security card or birth certificate.
House Bill 1631 addresses the court’s concern by requiring the state and all fee offices to provide free photo IDs as well as any underlying documents necessary to obtain a photo ID. All associated costs will be paid for by the state. If the budget appropriation is insufficient, the photo ID requirement would not be enforced.
Opponents of voter ID laws generally claim they disenfranchise voters who may not be able to afford an ID or do not possess the required documents to get an ID, namely minorities, the poor, the elderly and students. As part of a compromise, HB 1631 contains language allowing any person who does not have an acceptable form of ID and who is otherwise qualified to vote to sign a statement, under penalty of perjury, attesting to their identity. Once the statement has been signed, a voter may present an alternative ID (e.g., a student ID, current utility bill or bank statement) and cast a regular ballot.
Any person who does not want to sign the statement may cast a provisional ballot, which would only be counted if they presented the election authority with a form of ID or their signature could be verified within three days.
While HB 1631 goes too far for some but not far enough for others, I believe it finds a good balance between protecting the fairness of Missouri’s public elections and making sure no eligible voter is disenfranchised.
House Bill 1631 will not go into effect unless Missouri voters approve its companion constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution 53, which would require voters to present a photo ID at the polls. If passed, Missouri would become the 17th state to require a photo ID to vote.
If you have any questions or comments about this or any other matter regarding your state government, please feel free to contact me at (573) 751-1503; you are also welcome to e-mail me at jay.wasson@senate.mo.gov.