A battle between fellow Republicans more than a dozen years ago comes up again at the state capitol. In 19-91, the State Supreme Court had to step in and decide that then-Governor John Ashcroft could sign some official papers while out of the state. Then-Secretary of State Roy Blunt had refused to certify the actions. Recently, Blunt’s son, Governor Matt Blunt, gave fellow Republican Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder specific instructions on what powers Kinder would have while Blunt was out of town. Two years ago, then-Lieutenant Governor Joe Maxwell got similar marching orders from then-Governor Bob Holden while Holden was locked in a budget battle with the Legislature. There were questions whether Maxwell would sign the budget that Holden vetoed. Maxwell later said he would not have signed it.
