By K. Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, Mo. – Missouri Governor Bob Holden is defending the action he took earlier this week in altering the direction of the special legislative session that began June 2.
Holden had initially called the session in hopes of reversing deep budget cuts the Republican-controlled legislature passed in May. But on Wednesday, the governor deleted his original budget requests and asked lawmakers to pass a three-month emergency appropriation for education.
Republicans view the governor's change to the session agenda as unconstitutional but Holden says he's within his rights.
"We asked the lawyers to look at it, and it's within the constitutional framework of my duties," Holden said. "All I have to do is expand the call, which I've done. Legally, we're on very solid ground."
Governor Holden is again promising to veto the revised education budget lawmakers offered him on Tuesday.