By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Governor Holden today vetoed a bill that
makes broad changes to the s child abuse and neglect system. He said the changes would have caused more harm to the system than good.
The bill was a reaction to the death last year of a two-year-old foster child from Springfield.
Like lawmakers, Holden said he supports changes to the foster care system. But he said a thorough review by his legal staff
revealed numerous problems with the bill.
Some problems cited by Holden appear to be technical, but others reflect differences in thinking about what changes are necessary.
The legislation was sponsored by Republican House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, who sent Holden a letter Wednesday urging him to sign it. Hanaway promised to change at least one of the technical mistakes cited by the governor.