Posted on 05/21/2003 6:55:47 PM PDT by BOBWADE
Here's the latest on what's going on in Jefferson City. As always, I welcome your comments! Annie
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Governor Holden's Veto Threats Unprecedented
JEFFERSON CITY - It has been almost a century since a Missouri Governor has vetoed a budget bill in its entirety. In 1907, Governor Joseph Windgate Folk vetoed an entire budget bill, not due to spending reductions, but because it was improperly enrolled. This year Governor Holden has already committed the unprecedented act of vetoing three complete budget bills, and he warns there are more vetoes to come.
"Governor Holden has abdicated his responsibilities as chief executive officer of Missouri and fails to show any sign of leadership. Governors before him were able to lead our great state through the most difficult of times. Even during the Great Depression, both World Wars and the recession of the 1970's, former Governors approved the budget set forth by the General Assembly and guided the citizens of Missouri through financial straits," Speaker Catherine Hanaway, R-Warson Woods, said. "I strongly encourage the Governor to stand up and lead."
Governor Holden has vetoed budget bills pertaining to higher education (House Bill 3), mental health and senior services (House Bill 10) and social services (House Bill 11). The General Assembly can only address areas of the budget that the Governor vetoes. By the Governor signing the remaining budget bills, the General Assembly is denied the option of transferring funds from areas, such as the Office of Administration, to help offset the cuts in education and social services. Vetoing certain bills, instead of the entire budget, is a political move that could set the stage for a tax increase that could affect every Missourian.
"The General Assembly showed true leadership by reducing their own operating budget by 13 percent to help ease the cuts in other areas. By the Governor signing the remaining budget bills and eliminating any chance of transferring funds into other areas, he is protecting his own budget and bureaucrats at the expense of the children, seniors and disabled," Speaker Hanaway said. "If he must veto the budget state lawmakers passed, he should veto the entire budget and allow the General Assembly to further reduce the number of bureaucratic positions and give those funds to the children and impoverished. Demanding tax increases that voters have already defeated, does nothing to assist our most vulnerable citizens."
State lawmakers have been working though the budget process for the last four-and-one-half months, and have met the Governor halfway on the majority of his requests. State lawmakers passed a budget that contains half of the Governor's requested new revenue, without raising taxes, and also includes a mixture of spending reductions. It was not until after the budget was completed that the Governor decided to begin his campaign for special session coupled with tax increases.
"Once again I urge the Governor to announce the date of special session. Hiding the date is another ploy in his political game that is directly affecting the lives of Missourians and denies state lawmakers the opportunity to make arrangements pertaining to their families and businesses. If the Governor waits until mid to late June to call a special session, his true intentions must be to force a government shutdown," Speaker Hanaway said. "The General Assembly finished their work on May 9th. It is now time for the Governor to finish his work."
# # # Rep. Annie Reinhart Mo State Capitol 201 West Capitol Ave. - Rm 402 Jefferson City, MO 65101 O: 573-751-1218 E-mail: itsyourmoney@midamerica.net
Sounds like the late Dem Socialist Governor of Florida, Lawton Chiles, when confronted with a Republican legislature from 1996-1998. Thankfully, the good people of Florida corrected their mistake by electing Jeb after ol' Walkin' Lawton kicked the bucket in '98.
Now I'm back in NY, where the RINO State Senate overwhelmingly passed the biggest tax increase in state history!
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