Veto Session: Senator Mike Bernskoetter's Legislative Column for Sept. 13, 2024

Friday, September 13, 2024

Senator Mike Bernskoetter

6th Senatorial District

 

For Immediate Release: 

Sept. 13, 2024

 

Capitol Building, Room 416

Jefferson City, MO 65101

 

Contact Kenny Ross: 

 573-751-2076

 

Veto Session


This last week the General Assembly again gathered in Jefferson City for our constitutionally mandated Veto Session. This session is held every year on the Wednesday following the second Monday in September. The purpose of Veto Session is for the General Assembly to have an opportunity to override any vetoes the governor has made to legislation that was passed during the Legislative Session for that year held from January to May.

 

A veto is an action by the governor to stop a piece of legislation from becoming law. The General Assembly then has a chance to override the governor’s veto by a two-thirds vote in both chambers. If only two-thirds of one chamber votes, but the other does not then the veto stands. The beauty of the American governing system is the ability of the different branches to provide checks and balances to the other. It provides this nation with the unique ability to ensure one branch of government does not get out of control.

 

This year the governor did not veto any statutory bills, but he did veto several different line items in the budget. His reasoning was Senate Bill 727, the education bill passed during session, will cost too much to fully implement and therefore cuts to the budget needed to happen. The General Assembly agreed with the governor and did not override any of his budgetary vetoes.

 

Please feel free to contact my office at 573-751-2076. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Bernskoetter.