Nixon is in full campaign mode as he tries to rally interest groups and the public to pressure the legislature to let his veto of a business tax cut bill stand. Business groups are pressuring lawmakers, particularly Republicans, to overturn the veto despite Nixon’s gloomy assessments of what will happen to state programs if they do.
Nixon has taken his message to Fulton, the home of the state mental hospital that is seen by both majority Republicans and Democrats as badly in need of replacement. But he says overriding the veto will kill hopes for a new facility because the bill will take $600 million to $1.2 billion away from state programs, services—and needed building projects. “It’s…very important for people to understand the implications of making a decision to dramatically underfund necessary services in the state. If you do that it has very real consequences,” he says.
Some Republican legislators are starting to look at an override as less likely as the September veto session nears. House Speaker Tim Jones has told St. Louis Public Radio he doesn’t know if enough Republicans will vote to override and he might not even try for one.
Nixon met with reporters after touring part of the Fulton State Hospital’s Biggs Unit, which houses criminally insane clients. He also was asked about a possible override attempt of his veto of a bill saying Missouri authorities can arrest any federal law enforcement officer enforcing federal gun laws.
AUDIO: Nixon press conference 16:08
