ST. LOUIS — During a visit to St. Louis Wednesday to speak at a national education conference, Gov. Jay Nixon announced his decision to veto Senate Bill 51.
The bill deals with increasing license renewal fees from $3.50 to $5, as well as an assortment of other licensing-related changes. According to Nixon, the increases in the bill would cost Missouri residents $22 million per year.
“You know we’ve had to, at the state level, deal with a lot of smaller budgets and we’ve done so by embracing technology and working to move forward,” Nixon said Wednesday morning. “I just do not believe that providing no additional service and doubling the cost of something is the way government should operate.”
In addition to a financial burden on citizens, Nixon cited the conflict between the process of the Department of Revenue working with contractors and bidders for their operations as another reason for the veto, according to his letter.
In the legislature, SB 51 garnered widespread, bipartisan support in both chambers during session. The Conference Committee Substitute — the final product of the bill — was passed in the House by a 97-44 vote with 22 members absent. In the Senate, the vote was 30-2 with two members absent.
Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Lewis County, who sponsored the bill, said one county in his district, Schuyler County, doesn’t have a license office since it was closed a few years ago, the burden on constituents to drive long distances to renew their information. He added that SB 51 was trying to help make offices more accessible to constituents, which is a responsibility of the state.
“He has nickeled and dimed our rural offices, causing some to have to close,” Munzlinger said, adding that some counties are without license offices, forcing constituents to have to drive long distances to meet the state requirements. “The cost to constituents to drive would be more than what these increases are.”
Before announcing the veto, Nixon touted the work of several Missouri companies which have made headlines recently for their expansion efforts. Among those companies include General Motors, which announced Wednesday morning they would be expanding their Wentzville plant — a $133 million investment — creating 55 jobs.
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(Photo caption for feature image: Nixon speaks to reporters Wednesday, joined by Reps. Michele Kratky, Margo McNeil, Sharon Pace, Bill Otto, Steve Webb and Stacey Newman, and well as Sen. Joseph Keaveny.)
Ashley Jost is no longer with The Missouri Times. She worked as the executive editor for several months, and a reporter before that.
