After respite in Eminence, Nixon set to decide on legislation
The governor reiterated his concern about at least one bill on his desk: legislation cutting personal income, business and corporate income taxes.
The governor reiterated his concern about at least one bill on his desk: legislation cutting personal income, business and corporate income taxes.
While the governor has commonly vetoed bills from the GOP-controlled legislature since he took office in 2009, this year may provide a test of how much weight his objections hold. That’s because for the first time since he became governor, Republicans hold veto-proof majorities in both chambers.
With the exception of its laser focus on gun rights, the 97th session of the Missouri General Assembly that ended at 6 p.m. Friday pretty much reflected the recent tradition: The Republican majority portrayed it an “immense success,’’ the Democrats called it an extremist failure and Gov. Jay Nixon declined to say.
Enough Democratic state senators were opposed to legislation abolishing local foreclosure mediation ordinances that they could have filibustered the bill to death -- but they didn't. Why?
Gov. Jay Nixon indicated that he has serious misgivings about a broad-based tax cut bill that the Missouri General Assembly has sent to his desk. The bill cuts personal income, business and corporate income taxes.
Gov. Jay Nixon announced that he would reduce staff and services at the Division of Motor Vehicles if the legislature passes a budget funding only two-thirds of its 2014 fiscal year budget. The chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee said layoffs are unnecessary. Meanwhile, the state House has denied an open-records request from Nixon's Office of Administration, angry over an improper House attempt to get into a confidential online database.
Gov. Jay Nixon announced a changing-of-the-guard at the Department of Economic Development, the powerful agency in charge of divvying out economic development incentives. Department deputy director Mike Downing will serve as acting director of the agency, while Chris Pieper will return to Nixon's staff as a senior policy and legal advisor.
The sponsor of vetoed legislation allowing some counties to collect sales tax on certain vehicle purchases says he will not attempt to override Gov. Jay Nixon’s objection. Instead, state Sen. Mike Kehoe, R-Jefferson City, will try to pass a new bill that satisfies the governor's concerns.
The next election for Missouri's governor is still 1,302 days away. But Attorney General Chris Koster is already gathering financial steam in his probable bid to succeed Gov. Jay Nixon.
The director of the Missouri Department of Revenue has resigned his post, a move that comes as the agency’s actions have drawn widespread fire in the Missouri General Assembly.