JEFFERSON CITY — Lawmakers returned to Jefferson City this week for the General Assembly’s annual veto session, during which Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis, continued his support of the governor’s veto of legislation that would have endangered some of Missouri’s most vital programs serving students, low-income families, and seniors.  

One of the most talked-about measures leading up to veto session was House Bill 253, an individual and business income tax deduction measure that would have changed the manner in which Missouri collects sales and use taxes. 

“Until we fully fund education, we cannot in good conscience further reduce state revenues,” said Sen. Keaveny.  “The state needs more than $600 million to fully fund K-12 education, and an additional $600 million is needed for capital improvements throughout our state.  This is not the time to dangerously cut revenue while the state has obligations it is failing to fulfill.  We need to focus on using our current resources to fund crucial programs that benefit our state’s citizens.”

The governor vetoed House Bill 253 back in June, citing that Missouri is already a low-tax state, and the bill would have irreparably harmed education and other important public services, increased taxes on prescription drugs and textbooks, provided an uncertain economic climate for existing investments, and made our state’s tax code fundamentally less fair.

“I voted against this measure back in May and stood to protect the governor’s veto on this ill-conceived legislation this week,” said Sen. Keaveny.  “I will never support legislation that has the potential to hurt our state’s students, low-income families and seniors, and hard-working business owners who currently set up shop in Missouri.”

While Sen. Keaveny remained firm on his decision to maintain the veto override on House Bill 253, he shares his support to find a common-ground solution on a tax reform measure next year.
“I am willing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work on legislation designed to benefit citizens and businesses — both large and small — from all corners of our state from all income spectrums.  We must ensure the legislation we create does not have any harmful effects that would burden Missourians.”

A total of 29 bills passed by the General Assembly during the 2013 regular legislative session were vetoed by the governor; 19 originated in the Senate and 10 came from the House of Representatives.  To see a complete list of bills passed by the Legislature and the governor’s actions on those measures, visit www.senate.mo.gov.