Missouri veto session update

On Wednesday, Sept. 13, the Missouri General Assembly returned to Jefferson City for their constitutionally required veto session.  Unlike years past, the legislature did not face many Governor vetoes in 2017 and thus, had little to debate this week.  The Missouri Senate voted to censure one of their members for public comments made suggesting the “assassination” of President Trump, however the Senate did not take a vote for expulsion even after pressure was intensified by the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

In the House, the Democrat minority filed a resolution to subject a House member to an ethics investigation after some members considered he made racially insensitive comments on a twitter account following the defacing of a confederate monument in his district.  The House investigation will be done in committee and no censure motions were entertained this week.

Also, the Missouri House Democrats unsuccessfully attempted to override a veto of House Committee Bill 3 which allowed the Executive branch to do a one-time fund sweep of various state accounts to provide $35 million in one-time funds to restore budgeted cuts to senior services for in-home care and skilled nursing.  Although the veto was sustained, the legislature is working with the Governor’s office on finding a funding solution and many suggest that a potential special session may occur in October if a deal can be reached on finding the necessary funding.

Before the General Assembly was called into session on Wednesday, Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo) took the oath of office to fill the unexpired term for Senate District 28 formerly held by Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson.  Sarah Walsh (R-Columbia) also took the oath of office to fill the unexpired term for House District 50 formerly held by Rep. Caleb Jones who is currently Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Eric Greitens (R).

Due to Rep. Sandy Crawford’s election to the Senate, Rep. Lyndall Fraker (R-Marshfield) is now the Chairman of the House Financial Institutions Committee and Rep. Dan Shaul (R-Imperial) is Vice Chairman.  Also, Rep. Shamed Dogan (R-Ballwin) has replaced Rep. Fraker as the Chairman of the House Local Government Committee.

And, the House Republican Caucus met in Jefferson City the evening before veto session and voted on their Speaker-Elect.  The Speaker-Elect would assume the top House position in 2019 and has been selected in advance to ensure the House Republican Caucus remains unchanged going into the next election cycle.  The House Republican Caucus selected Rep. Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) who is currently the House Speaker Pro-Tem.  Haahr is a Springfield attorney with the firm of Lathrop and Gage.