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Release: Gov. Nixon highlights vetoes of legislation, including bills that would raise fees on Missourians, allow illegal workers to benefit from government contracts

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – With the annual veto session taking place on Sept. 14, Gov. Jay Nixon today highlighted several of his veto messages during a news conference in Springfield and warned of the consequences of the bills if they become law. Each bill that reaches his desk receives word-by-word scrutiny before he takes action on it, the Governor said. The bills he vetoed do not move the state forward, he said, and the veto messages present the reasons for the vetoes in a clear, concise manner.

“One of these bills would quadruple the fees a license office can charge Missourians when they get a driver’s license or register a vehicle, and another bill would make it easier for companies that hire illegal workers to obtain government contracts,” Gov. Nixon said. “I vetoed both of these bills and others because they are not in the best interest of Missourians. Before the veto session gets underway tomorrow, I encourage Missourians and their elected representatives to look at my veto messages.”

The license fee bill, Senate Bill 867, sponsored by state Sen. David Sater, would raise fees on Missourians at local license offices without providing any new or additional services. Those fees include a new $2 notary fee and a $2 charge for each “electronic transmission” or “electronic lookup,” neither of which is defined in the legislation. All told, the fees could add $12 in new fees to the existing $3.50 fee.

House Bill 1870, sponsored by state Rep. Denny Hoskins, would make it easier for businesses that hire illegal workers to obtain government contracts or state tax credits by eliminating the requirement to use the free E-Verify program. Since 2008, Missouri law has required businesses wanting to obtain a state government contract or get state tax credits to use E-Verify to determine the legal status of their workers.

Additional vetoed bills that may be taken up this week by the General Assembly are listed below. The list includes the name of the bill sponsor, along with a link to the veto message:

HOUSE BILLS

HB 1414 Rep. Jay Houghton, District 43                                                                                            House Bill 1414 reduces government transparency by exempting data collected by state agencies from disclosure under Missouri’s sunshine law.

HB1432 Rep. Rob Vescovo, District 112                                                                                           House Bill 1432 would make it more difficult for employers to take disciplinary action against employees that have engaged in malfeasance.

HB 1474 Former Rep. Tony Dugger, District 141                                                                             House Bill 1474 does not provide sufficient time for the Missouri Ethics Commission to implement certain changes. The Governor signed SB 786 that contains these changes and provides time for their implementation.

HB 1631 Rep. Justin Alferman, District 61                                                                                             By requiring a photo ID to vote, House Bill 1631 would make voting more difficult for qualified voters and disenfranchise certain classes of people.

HB 1713 Rep. Tim Remole, District 6                                                                                                House Bill 1713 would shift the balance of power on the Missouri Clean Water Commission from the public interest in favor of regulated interests.

HB1733 Rep. Charlie Davis, District 162                                                                                          House Bill 1733 would make Missouri roadways less safe by allowing automated long-haul trucks on certain Missouri highways.

HB 1763 Rep. Noel Shull, District 16                                                                                                House Bill 1763 contains a drafting error by using the word “insured” instead of “insurer.”

HB 1976 Rep. Denny Hoskins, District 54                                                                                         House Bill 1976 would take away the legal right of consumers to obtain refunds if they cancel their vehicle extended service contracts.

HB 2011 Rep. Tom Flanigan, District 163                                                                                        House Bill 2011 would unfairly exempt select health care providers from the requirement to pay for their participation in the Missouri Health Connection, as called for under existing contracts.

HB 2030 Rep. Denny Hoskins, District 54                                                                                         House Bill 2030 includes a special-interest tax break that could reduce state revenues by as much as $10.3 million annually and would only benefit those earning capital gains from the sale of employer securities in an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).

HB 2237 Rep. Caleb Rowden, District 44                                                                                         House Bill 2237 would invalidate all conflict of interest laws that currently prohibit county commissioners from voting on items from which they would financially benefit.

SENATE BILLS

SB 591 Sen. Mike Parson, District 28                                                                                                Senate Bill 591 does away with Missouri’s well-established criteria on expert testimony  and replaces it with a much more intricate, complicated and costly procedure.

SB 608 Sen. David Sater, District 29                                                                                                 Senate Bill 608 would impose new penalties and fees on low-income families, the aged, blind and disabled who participate in Medicaid.

SB 641 Sen. Dave Schatz, District 26                                                                                                Senate Bill 641 is a special interest tax break that would be unique in the country by providing retroactive tax refunds for past disaster payments. The bill  could cost as much as $50 million in the current fiscal year.

SB 656 Sen. Brian Munzlinger, District 18                                                                                        Senate Bill 656 would allow individuals, including those from other states, to legally carry a concealed firearm even though they have been denied a permit because their background check revealed criminal offenses or caused the sheriff to believe they posed a danger. The bill also eliminates any training requirement for conceal and carry.

SB 844 Sen. Mike Parson, District 28                                                                                                Senate Bill 844 would infringe upon landowners’ right by weakening safeguards put in place to protect them from damage caused by another person’s escaped livestock

SB 847 Sen. Ed Emery, District 31                                                                                                    Senate Bill 847 would undermine an injured Missourian’s ability to fully and fairly establish their damages resulting from the harm they suffered as the result of  someone else’s carelessness.

SB 994 Sen. Brian Munzlinger, District 18                                                                                        Senate Bill 994 would violate the Missouri Constitution by spending public money on a private purpose.

SB 1025 Sen. Will Kraus, District 8                                                                                                   Senate Bill 1025 includes a special tax break for dance and gymnastics classes that would require cutting up to $8 million each year from other essential services.