It was only 3 days ago that Governor Jay Nixon, fresh off vetoing SB-509, a bill designed to implement Kansas style tax reduction, urged the Republican senate to think seriously about what would happen should they vote to Override his veto.
Nixon continued in public statements to point out Missouri's growth and the failure of the Kansas experiment.
Noting that Missouri's current job growth and site selection for construction projects have been better than originally forecast
Nixon hoped to appeal to the better senses of the Republican senate.
Today, the Senate voted 23-8, on strictly party lines to override the veto, sending it to the house for a vote tomorrow.
The Republicans control the house, but to get an override, they would need one democrat to defect.
Problem for democrats? It seems as though more than one Democrat is willing to hop on board, leading Republican party list and others to openly comment that this is a 'done deal'.
http://www.kansascity.com/...
The Missouri Senate voted 23-8 along party lines Monday to override Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of the tax cut passed last month.
In the House, all 108 Republicans would have to stick together and be joined by one Democrat to garner the two-thirds vote needed for an override. They appear to have found that Democrat in Rep. Keith English of St. Louis County, who said Monday that he plans to support the bill on the veto override vote.
After an hour of debate, the House adjourned Monday night without taking a vote. Rep. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, was attending a funeral and couldn’t make the trip to Jefferson City.
An override vote would culminate a year of struggle between the Democratic governor and a Republican-dominated General Assembly over tax cuts.
The GOP has argued the cuts are desperately needed for Missouri to keep up economically with its neighbors, particularly Kansas and the much more expansive tax cuts it passed two years ago.
I want you to ponder that. The Missouri GOP is contending that they losing out economically to Kansas.
So, how is this plan actually playing out in Kansas for the people?
For the people?
http://www.kansascity.com/...
And for the state?
http://www.kansas.com/...
The state’s revenue for the year is $92.9 million less than projected earlier this month.
The unexpected news weighed heavily on a joint committee of senators and House members who worked late into the night, trying to hammer out a budget in a wrap-up session that started Wednesday.
“It’s certainly impacting decisions. I mean any decision that would have included more spending is out the window obviously,” said Sen. Ty Masterson, R-Andover.
The state has taken in $480 million less overall than it had by this point in the last fiscal year.
Kansas has so far managed to lose $480M this FY. On track for double that in a year. Think about that. How bad is it? It's bad enough that roadways and KDOT may suffer. Spending may go unfulfilled.
But this is the pattern Missouri wants to follow.
While Missouri GOP talks about the differences between their legislation and the Kansas legislation.. and it is amusing watching them throw Brownback under the bus in order to say 'our cuts are nothing like their cuts!' the problem the Missouri GOP blushes over the fact that many of their larger communities have significant jumps in district level sales taxes in order to cover municipality costs.
That's Ok.
If you're in Missouri and you have a legislator who's on the fence.. especially if you are in St. Louis County, you might take some time tonight and give Rep. Keith English a buzz. Without one (D) to flip, this dies. If (D)s don't stand together tomorrow, this is all over.
His email: Keith.English@house.mo.gov
Office #: 573-751-9628
PLEASE NOTE: Only contact if you're from St. Louis county or at least Missouri. Out of staters contacting Keith are likely to slow this up from him feeling real pressure to do the right things tomorrow.