As veto session begins at noon, we will update this post with information about what is happening each hour of veto session.
To see the House, click here.
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12-1 p.m. updates
– Senate Bill 240 was brought up for discussion and ultimately died.
– Senate Bill 60 was brought up for discussion and ultimately died.
– Senate Bill 350 was brought up for discussion and ultimately died.
– Senate Bill 43 was brought up for discussion and ultimately died.
– Senate Bill 342 was brought up for discussion and ultimately died.
– Senate Bill 51 was brought up for discussion and ultimately died.
- – The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Lewis County, uses personal privilege to say that there was a portion of the bill that involved fee offices that Gov. Jay Nixon included in his veto letter which he said came from the House. Because of experience with fee offices in his district, he said he left the provision in there.
- Munzlinger said he looks forward to working with the governor and the body on getting the bill altered and passed in the future, but he understands the concerns and isn’t bringing the bill up.
– Senate Bill 29 is brought up for discussion
- – The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dan Brown, R-Phelps County, said the bill was dubbed “Paycheck Protection” and continued to address the governor’s concerns.
- – Sen. Scott Sifton, D-St. Louis County, addressed Sen. Gina Walsh, D-St. Louis County, both who say they don’t support the bill. Both senators discussed concerns about police officers and other first responders were exempted.
- – Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Kansas City, called the bill “unnecessary,” “unfair” and “a mockery.” He argued that the bill adds undue burdens on municipalities.
- – Sen. Joe Keaveny, D-St. Louis, inquired Walsh, and subsequently Walsh inquired LeVota — all discussed concerns about the exemption.
- – Walsh — a major advocate for unions and longstanding union member — voiced her overall concerns from her
- – Sifton addressed Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Jefferson County, continuing the shorter filibuster from the Democrats and they speculated what could happen with the House.
- – Sifton also addressed House Minority Leader Jolie Justus, D-Audrain County, who said she ultimately things the bill will go to the courts.
- – Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, took a moment of personal privilege to discuss the 9/11 anniversary. She asked for a moment of silence.
- – The veto override attempt fails by a 22-11 vote.
– Senate Bill 28 is brought up for discussion and currently is being discussed.
The hour ends with 20 of the 34 senators on the floor as House Bill 253 is brought up in the lower chamber.
1-2 p.m. update
– Senate Bill 28 discussion continued
- – Senate votes to override the bill by a 24-11 vote.
– Senate brings up House Bill 19 (a budget bill), which was voted on in the House.
- – Senate votes to override the bill by a 28-5 vote.
- – The bill is officially overridden by both chambers.
– Senate Bill 34 is brought up for discussion.
- – Sen. Mike Cunningham, R-Webster County, discussed the intent of the bill to formulate a database for recipients of worker’s compensation.
- – There is no discussion and the bill goes straight to a vote.
- – The Senate votes to override the bill by a 25-9 vote.
– Senate Bill 9 is brought up for discussion.
- – Sen. David Pearce, R-Johnson County, points out the bill previously drew unanimous support with a 33-0 vote.
- – Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City, inquires of Pearce about information they’re currently receiving pushback on. Earlier today, the Missouri Farm Bureau sent letters to at least some senators with information about certain efforts.
- – The discussion continued for a while. Sen. Mike Parson, R-Polk County, and Munzlinger discussed concerns that have been expressed by different external groups.
- – The Senate votes to override the veto of the bill by a 23-10 vote.
– Senate Bill 110 is brought up for discussion.
- – Brown, the bill sponsor, introduced the bill’s intent with changing procedures associated with the foster parenting programs in the state.
- – The bill initially passed the chamber during session with a 33-0 vote.
- – Justus spoke against the override, though she initially supported it, saying that concerns have arisen from people in her district as well as the governor regarding whether it’s the most efficient way to go about the process, essentially.
- – Brown said he is willing to do what’s done to fix the bill to get this through but doesn’t trust something will happen through other means.
- – The Senate votes to override the veto of the bill by a 25-9 vote.
2-3 p.m. update
– Senate Bill 129 is brought up for discussion.
- – The Senate votes to override the veto of the bill by a 25-9 vote.
– Senate Bill 265 is brought up for discussion.
- – Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Franklin County, brings up the bill and expresses concerns about personal property rights being infringed upon, never mentioning Agenda 21, which the bill is against and an aspect that has gained a lot of notoriety in the media.
- – During an inquiring with Keaveny, Nieves said that “maybe it should have stopped” with the property rights concerns rather than adding the additional provisions. Keaveny brings up Agenda 21. They discussed whether Agenda 21 was non-binding, among other concerns.
- – The Senate votes to override the veto of the bill by a 24-6 vote.
– Senate Bill 267 is brought up for discussion.
- – “This bill is not about Sharia Law. This bill is not intended to be about Sharia Law.” Nieves begins the discussion, adding that the bill doesn’t intend to be about the Muslim culture.
- – Nieves calls Nixon’s veto letter absurd and embarrassing.
- – Sifton, a Democrat, says he agrees with Nieves in saying that it isn’t about Sharia Law.
- – Sifton says the media might not be accurate in calling this a Sharia Law bill, because there were two bills discussed a few years one was addressing Sharia Law, but this bill isn’t the same thing, he says.
- – Discussion shifts to HB 253 as the override attempt failed in the lower chamber.
- – Nasheed, who is a Muslim, said the bill is about “bigotry.” “This is an attack on Muslims and Islams throughout America.” She adds that she hopes it is thrown out in the courts.
- – The Senate votes to override the veto of the bill by a 23-10 vote.
3-4 p.m. update
– Senate Bill 224 is brought up for discussion and ultimately died.
– Senate Bill 170 is brought up for discussion.
- – The bill sponsor, Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-St. Louis, brings up the bill expressing her personal experience with traveling difficulty and her concerns for smaller-scale government groups like city councils that she says would benefit from this.
- – The Senate votes to override the veto of the bill by a 31-3 vote.
– The Senate recesses for an hour at 3:15 p.m.
4-5 p.m. update
– The Senate has not returned from recess.
6-7 p.m. update
– Senate is back in session at 6:3o p.m.
– House Bill 278 is brought up for discussion.
- – The Senate votes to override the veto of the bill by 24-9.
– House Bill 329 is brought up for discussion.
- – The Senate votes to override the veto of the by by a 25-9 vote.
– House Bill 339 is brought up for discussion.
- – The Senate votes to override the veto of the bill by a 26-8 vote.
– House Bill 436 is brought up for discussion.
- – Nieves introduces the bill and is still discussing the bill at the end of the hour.
7-8 p.m. update
– Nieves’ introduction of House Bill 436 continued. He spoke against Attorney General Chris Koster’s letter, calling it “bologna.” He dissected the letter and criticized Koster, calling him a politician; “Notice I didn’t say statesman.”
- – Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-St. Louis County, inquired Nieves and argued that in the process of the bill, her fellow Democrats — some in the House that she called “elitist progressives” — ignored the issues that the inner city faces in terms of gangs. She had an amendment on the bill that sought to address some of her concerns, but none of the Democrats made mention of it in their decrying of the rest of the bill.
- – Sen. Ed Emery, R-Barton County, inquired Nieves. The two discussed support of the bill.
- – Sen. Jason Holsman, D-Kansas City, discusses his support of Koster and subsequently his lack of support for the bill.
8-9 p.m. update
– House Bill 436 discussion continued.
- – Sen. Rob Schaaf inquired Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-St. Louis County, why the governor couldn’t put part of the bill on hold until later. Schmitt says it isn’t exactly possible. Schaaf then asks “why could Obama do it.”
- – The Senate failed to override the veto of the bill 22-12.
- – The two Republicans to voted against it were President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey and Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard.
– House Bill 650 is brought up for discussion.
- – Sen. Gary Romine introduced the bill.
- – Chappelle-Nadal says she is switching her vote from a no to a yes because of the things she learned during a tour.
- – Brown says he cannot in good conscious not vote to save the 1,600 jobs supporters say this bill could salvage when the mining plant closes in December.
- – The Senate votes to override the veto of the bill by a 26-5 vote.
– House Bill 1035 is brought up for discussion.
- – The bill comes to a vote after a very short discussion.
- – The Senate votes to override the veto of the bill by a 26-8 vote.
– The Senate recesses with nothing to do on the agenda. They are now waiting essentially for the House to finish so they can be done.
– Both chambers technically adjourned around midnight.
Ashley Jost is no longer with The Missouri Times. She worked as the executive editor for several months, and a reporter before that.