Rupp: Lawmakers Return to Jefferson City for Annual Veto Session

Mid-September brings legislators back to the State Capitol for the General Assembly's annual veto session.  This veto session, which begins Sept. 15 and is not to exceed 10 days in length, gives lawmakers the chance to consider bills vetoed by the governor.  Of the 32 Senate bills and 74 House measures delivered to the governor, four House bills and one Senate bill received the governor's veto.

In addition, one budget bill (House Bill 2007), contains a line-item veto of $300,000.  Line-item vetoes allow the governor to only exclude a portion of legislation approved by the General Assembly and can only be completed on budget bills.  In order for the Senate and House to override a governor's veto, the Legislature has to have a two-thirds majority vote during veto session.  Measures vetoed by the governor up for consideration include:

• Senate Bill 777 – Allows for the sale of certain financial products and plans associated with certain loan transactions.
• House Bill 1831 – Allows school districts, after 10 years, to sell as surplus any real property that has been donated to it if the donor refuses the district's offer to return it.
• House Bill 1741 – Changes the laws regarding a meeting of a board of directors or the executive committee of a corporation.
• House Bill 2317 – Requires each member of the General Assembly to be provided with a key to access the State Capitol dome and authorizes the governor to convey certain state property.
• House Bill 1903 – Creates the Federal Budget Stabilization Extension Fund and the Race to the Top Fund to receive moneys from any legislation enacted by the 111^th United States Congress.

To read each one of the governor's veto letters corresponding to the measures mentioned above, visit the governor's legislative actions page at http://governor.mo.gov/actions.

My colleagues and I will also use the time during veto session to say goodbye to 10 retiring members during the Missouri Senate's retirement ceremony.  I will miss these fellow legislators who have become my friends over the years.  Each member served their constituency well and should be proud of the accomplishments they made while serving in this great building.  I wish them the best of luck wherever life's path may take them next.

If you have any questions or comments about bills vetoed by the governor or any other topic regarding state government, please visit my website, e-mail me, or call my office toll-free at (866) 271-2844.