The governor this year vetoed an historic amount of legislation, including line-item vetoes in numerous budget bills. As a result, the General Assembly gathered together this week to override many of his actions, and to show its bipartisan support for restoring bills that benefit our state.
The line-item budget vetoes resulted in many programs being in peril due to a lack of funding.
My colleagues and I worked together to override 57 vetoes, including 47 line-item vetoes from the state budget.
Some of the restored legislation includes:
Senate Bill 866, which modifies laws regarding installment loan lenders;
Senate Bill 656, which modifies provisions regarding corporate and school security and firearms;
Senate Bill 727, which exempts produce sold at farmers’ markets from sales taxes;
House Bill 1307, increasing the waiting period for an abortion from 24 to 72 hours;
Senate Bill 841, prohibiting the sale of nicotine vapor products to persons under the age of 18; and
House Bill 1132, changing the law regarding tax credits for contributions made to food pantries, pregnancy resource centers or maternity homes.
Overrides of the line-item vetoes include:
Defibrillators for State Water Patrol boats;
Restoring funds to centers providing alternatives to abortion;
Funding for AP/Dual credit for low-income students;
Mentoring program for children of incarcerated individuals; and
Funding for forensic exams for sexually abused children.
These and all other legislative issues can be examined at the Senate website www.senate.mo.gov
Always feel free to contact me throughout the year with any comments, questions, or issues by calling my office at (573) 751-5713 or by visiting my website at www.senate.mo.gov/brown.
Thank you for reading this and for your participation in state government.
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