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Nixon preaches against expected veto overrides by Missouri lawmakers

Gov. Jay Nixon defends several vetoes in anticipation of the legislature's attempts to override them. at state fair, aug 18 2016
Marshall Griffin | St. Louis Public Radio

Gov. Jay Nixon is speaking out against plans by lawmakers to override several vetoes he made earlier this year.

He told reporters Thursday at the Missouri State Fair that tax breaks sought by GOP leaders could deprive the state of much-needed revenue.

"It's going to have to come out of schools if they override, it's going to have to come out of law enforcement, it's going to have to come out of the other things that we're spending money on," Nixon said. "Quite frankly this year, we even put some money into roads through the budget."

He also said overriding his veto on this year's gun bill would rob local sheriffs of the right to deny a conceal-carry permit to someone deemed a threat to the community.

"I don't think it's the job of the legislature to (go) to Jeff City and take power away from local officials, especially when it comes to public safety," Nixon said. "In certain situation, like domestic violence and others, if a local sheriff thinks that there's too much heat right now in a relationship to allow one of them to be walking around carrying (a gun) for a few months, then he ought to have that power to do that.  I think the legislature, near the end of the session, got in a hurry; I don't think the bill was fully vetted."

Nixon also wants lawmakers to uphold his veto of legislation to require photo IDs for voting in elections.

"I just really deeply believe that making it more difficult for people to vote is not a good thing, especially when you see 25 percent turnout," he said. "We need to get more people voting, not having impediments."

Nixon hinted at a possible public campaign to rally support for upholding his veto, saying, "We'll be talking about voter ID a little bit more in the weeks to come."

Missouri's veto session is scheduled Sept. 14.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

Marshal was a political reporter for St. Louis Public Radio until 2018.