MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
State Capital Bureau
JEFFERSON CITY - In contrast to last year when Missouri's governor narrowly avoided an override of his veto, legislative leaders predict this year's veto session will be quick and painless for the governor.
The legislature meets at noon today to discuss bills vetoed by Carnahan in the during the past legislative session.
But this year, abortion will not be an issue because lawmakers did not pass a bill to restrict abortion.
"We have not heard of any effort to override any of the bills that we vetoed in session," said Chris Sifford, Carnahan's chief spokesman. "That is not to say that it won't happen, but we usually would have heard something by now."
From Senate President Pro Tem Bill McKenna, D-Jefferson City, the response was same: "not to my knowledge."
On the GOP side, Minority Leader Steve Ehlmann, D-St. Charles, offered one possible reason for the absence of override talk -- most of the vetoed bills were sponsored by Democrats. With an election year, Ehlmann speculated Democrats, who control the legislature, would be reluctant to override any veto by a Democratic governor.
This year, the only bill Carnahan vetoed which could be considered controversial would have boosted the pensions of former legislators. Sifford said he doesn't expect anything to come of it.
The bill's sponsor - Sen. John Scott, D-St. Louis - is out of the country and is not expected to attend the veto session.
Last year, the Senate fell one vote short of the 23 needed to override the governor's veto of a ban on partial birth abortions.
To see the other bills Carnahan vetoed during the 1998 legislative session, you can log on at