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State lawmakers return to Capitol for Veto Session

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State lawmakers return to the Capitol today for the annual Veto Session. It appears that though there might be a lot of talk, there likely won’t be any vetoes overturned.

Governor Nixon, a Democrat, signed 139 bills . He vetoed 23 and made line-item vetoes in 11 budget bills.

“This governor certainly issued a much higher number of vetoes than previous governors and a lot of those are budget related and we understand that given the fiscal difficulties the state is in,” says Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph) , “But there may be opportunities for folks to voice their displeasure and say why they think something should not have been vetoed or in a particular appropriation why it shouldn’t have been line-itemed vetoed. So, that may be an opportunity for folks.”

Neither Shields nor House Speaker Ron Richard (R-Joplin) anticipate any vetoes will be overridden this year.

“I don’t think there is any support for a super majority in the House. I just doubt if that happens,” Richard says. “We are going to go through the budget bills one by one and whoever wants to speak, we’re going to do that. But, any serious votes, I’m not sure there are any serious votes that would override.”

The governor signed 103 House bills and 36 Senate bills this year. He vetoed 11 House bills and 12 Senate bills. In addition, he made line-item vetoes in 11 budget bills, which originate in the House. Vetoed bills return to the chamber of origin which can take a vote to override the governor. It takes 109 votes in the House and 23 in the Senate to override a gubernatorial veto. A bit of sickness has reduced the number of Republicans expected in the House Chamber today, reducing their total numbers to the mid-80s. It is highly unlikely any House Democrat will vote to override Nixon, a fellow Democrat. The only serious defections in recent history occurred on emotional social issues, such as the 1999 override of Governor Carnahan’s veto of the partial-birth abortion ban and, in 2003, Democrats voted against Governor Holden in over-turning his veto of the concealed weapons bill.

Veto overrides remain rare. There have been only 22 in state history.

Any talk of override this year has centered on two bills, one from each chamber. SB 202 , which repealed the state motorcycle helmet law for adults, passed overwhelmingly in both chambers. Still, Senate leaders don’t expect a serious override attempt. HB 544 proposed oversight accountability of federal economic stimulus money as well as increased access to the Capitol dome. The sponsors of those bills might well make a motion to override, use the opportunity to state their objections to the governor’s action, and then withdraw the motion

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)

Mental Fitness Will Decide Prisoner’s Fate

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Whether a state prisoner is mentally retarded is a life or death question before the State Supreme Court. While serving a 30-year sentence for rape and sodomy, Steven Parkus strangled to death a fellow inmate. He was sentenced to death. In 1999, Governor Carnahan stayed Parkus’ execution and ordered an examination of his mental fitness. A judge has found Parkus mentally retarded and reduced his sentence to life in prison. The state Attorney General’s office has appealed to the Supreme Court. The state’s appeal hinges on that judge’s ruling.

The state argues that the judge actually found Parkus borderline mentally retarded and it asserts the judge doesn’t have the authority to order that Parkus be re-sentenced to life in prison. The state has appealed, claiming that the judge’s evaluation actually found Parkus to be borderline mentally retarded.

Lawyer Sean O’Brien has argued before the Supreme Court that a federal court ruling and state law prohibits the execution of the mentally retarded and Parkus should not be considered eligible for execution. A ruling by the Supreme Court will come later.

Highway Named in Honor of Late Governor

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A five-mile stretch of Interstate 44 often traveled by the Carnahan family has been named the Mel Carnahan Memorial Highway in honor of the late Governor. Carnahan’s widow, Jean – a former U.S. Senator – says she remembers many trips in the family station wagon loaded with four kids and a dog along that road. She says building roads were the Governor’s second priority, right behind building schools. It’s been almost six years since Governor Carnahan was killed in a plane crash while campaigning for the United States Senate.

McGeehan Named to Conservation Commission

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Governor Blunt has made a stop in Springfield to announce his nominee for the Missouri Conservation Commission is Chip McGeehan from Marshfield. Blunt says McGeehan will be the first person from the Springfield area to serve on this commission in over a decade. McGeehan has accepted the nomination and says he’s very excited about his dream coming true. McGeehan’s nomination is subject to Senate approval. If approved, he’ll serve until June of 2011.Blunt has chosen McGeehan to replace Anita Gorman whose term has expired.

Carnahan Family Decides Against More Legal Action In 2000 Plane Crash

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The Carnahan family has decided not to pursue a new trial asking for punitive damages from an airplane parts manufacturer. The family had received about $2.4-Million from Parker-Hanifan, the maker of a part on the plane the crashed almost four years ago, killing Governor Mel Carnahan, his son Randy, and campaign aide Chris Sifford. The jury that awarded the actual damages did not award any punitive damages. The Carnahan family has let a deadline for an appeal of that finding to expire without trying a new action for punitive penalties.

Jury Finds For Carnahans In Plane Crash Negligence Case

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A jury in Kansas City has found airline parts manufacturer Parker Hannifin negligent in the October, 2000, plane crash that claimed the lives of Governor Mel Carnahan, his son Randy – who was flying the plane, and campaign aide Chris Sifford. The jury awarded $3-Million for the Governor and $1-Million for Randy Carnahan in compensatory damages. The Carnahan family’s attorney had been seeking $100-Million. He had argued that a pair of vacuum pumps manufactured by Parker Hannifin failed, causing the plane to crash. Lawyers for Parker Hannifin had blamed the crash on the failure of the pilot’s attitude indicator which tells a pilot whether the plane is on the right course.

Parts Manufacturer In Carnahan Plane Crash Has Its Day In Court

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The other side is telling its version of the Carnahan plane crash story – and it is saying a critical airplane part did not fail and cause the crash. Parts manufacturer Parker Hanifan is being sued by the survivors of Mel Carnahan and his son Randy – who died in the crash. Carnahan family experts say one of the plane’s vacuum pumps failed, giving improper instrument readings. Their lawsuit is being heard in Kansas City. Parker Hanifan’s expert, an engineering professor from Ohio, says they did not fail. A federal investigation says both pumps were probably working when the plane crashed.

Arguments Get Underway In Carnahan Crash Liability Case

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The cause of the airplane crash that killed Governor Mel Carnahan and two others is being disputed in court in Kansas City. Arguments in the Carnahan family’s lawsuit against the manufacturer of an airplane vacuum pump have begun. The family says the vacuum pumps failed, cutting off power to several instruments including the one that tells the pilot how the airplane is positioned in relation to the ground. The company that made the pumps says a long federal investigation shows the instrument failed on its own, for unknown reasons.

McCaskill Picks Up Key Endorsement

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State Auditor Claire McCaskill, who has announced her candidacy for Governor, has already picked up an important endorsement. A challenge to an incumbent Governor from within his own party is interesting enough. What’s sure to raise even more eyebrows is an endorsement of the challenger from a former Governor – from that party. State Auditor Claire McCaskill’s bid to replace Governor Bob Holden as the Democratic Party’s flagbearer next year is getting the blessing of former Governor Roger Wilson. He says the party needs a strong candidate in next year’s general election and McCaskill is the best choice. Wilson says the state is a mess and aa change is essential. Wilson, the Lieutenant Governor who became Governor when MelCarnahan died in a plane crash three years ago while campaigning for the U.S. Senate, had considered a run for Governor in 2000 but chose not to go after the nomination, which was eventually won by Bob Holden.

Bond Breaks Silence Over Web Flap

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Senator Bond said he was shocked that a senior aide of his had been using the tail number of the airplane that crashed and killed Governor Carnahan in the address to his political Web site. Bond has fired Communications Director Ernie Blazar after the Web site came to light. The senator refused to speak with the news media about the incident and ordered his staff not to talk about it. Bond last week would only issue a written statement that he taped and offered to radio stations. But Bond addressed the incident briefly this weekend when asked by a reporter about it at a groundbreaking of an ethanol plant in Malta Bend. Bond said he has apologized to the people that he knew were offended by the use of the tail number. The senator said he has served Missouri as a politician for three decades and though he has fought vigorously for his positions, he does not believe in this type of personal, political attack.