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Nixon vetoes omnibus bill for dispute over fees

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a bill Thursday that had a wide range of provisions relating to everything from sheltered workshops, fire protection, property managers, and the consolidation of road districts to nuisance abatement ordinances, the taxation of bed and breakfasts, museum district petitions.

His official reason for the veto?

SB 867 would allow license offices to charge $2.00 for each electronic transmission or electronic look-up for a document that person applying for a license did not have in their possession. The bill would also institute a $2.00 notary fee at license offices.

“Missourians should not be asked to pay yet another new government fee to receive the same service they receive today, and certainly not by way of an eleventh-hour amendment to an already swollen omnibus bill stretched far beyond the bill’s original purpose,” Nixon said in a statement.

Lant
Lant

The bill was carried in the Senate by Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, but the language Nixon objected to was added as an amendment by Rep. Bill Lant, R-Pineville, in the House. Lant says he brought forward the measure to give assistance to license offices in rural areas.

“I can’t imagine why he would begrudge tag offices a $2.00 fee to look up insurance verification or a notary fee,” Lant said. “Rural tag offices are struggling to stay afloat. We told his office if clarification was needed, we would address that next session.”

The veto may be overruled at veto session.