Governor Bob Holden has scheduled a third news conference for a third consecutive day this week to discuss the state budget and likely announce another veto. The Governor has already announced he will veto the budgets on health, mental health and higher education. He is expected to target social services and public schools as well, then make the call for a special session. Holden has made it known he wants the Legislature to place a tax increase on the ballot and counters legislative leaders’ resistance to tax increases by saying they have, in essence, approved a tax increase by cutting state aide to state colleges. In discussions with reporters this week it has become evident Holden wants the legislature to place a tax increase on the ballot. The Republican majority in the Legislature, though, has refused to consider any of the tax increases Holden has proposed and doesn’t seem in a mood to reconsider that position.
