For the second straight year, Governor Jay Nixon has vetoed a bill to address the charging of taxes on vehicles purchased out-of-state.

Senator Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City).  Photo courtesy, Missouri State Senate Communications.

Senator Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City). Photo courtesy, Missouri State Senate Communications.

Nixon says Senate Bill 182 doesn’t give voters the opportunity to address all the changes that would make in local and state taxes they have to pay. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Mike Kehoe (R-Jefferson City) says he’s disappointed with the Nixon Administration’s assessment.

“We presented them with many versions of this bill that just didn’t come out earlier. I’m not an attorney but other folks who have looked at this feel like their concerns are addressed in other areas of the bill, so it certainly wasn’t an intentional thing.”

See the Governor’s veto message.

Though Kehoe’s Republican party has a supermajority in both the House and the Senate, he says a veto overturn will not be attempted.

“I’m going to do what I think is best for Missouri small businesses and municipalities, and I think that’s not let this get caught up in politics, which, sometimes a veto override can get very political. The Governor’s office has promised they would give us some suggested language to ease their concerns by Monday. I’m going to incorporate those changes and then find a bill that’s moving … a vehicle, if you will … that’s moving somewhere where those changes will fit on and try to get it [passed this session].”

He thinks it’s important the issue be resolved this year.

“Every day that goes by, we’re losing sales to competing states. Municipalities are losing tax revenues, and the more that sales start to go to other states, the jobs will follow, and so it’s very important.”

Kehoe thinks there is enough support to get the legislation through again. SB 182 passed the Senate unanimously and passed out of the House 123-32.