This morning the House took up the vote to override Governor Jay Nixon’s veto of SB 509. The republican majority needed 109 votes to override the governor’s veto. After quickly calling the previous question, the majority forced a vote without floor debate. The board was held open, amounting to a significant delay, waiting for the vote of Representative Keith English. Interestingly, the republican majority allowed that lone member of the minority party the final and deciding vote. Don’t you just love their bipartisan spirit?

During the wait the quips from the floor included, “Maybe we should all stand and applaud when he walks in” and “If this is such a good bill, what’s he hiding for?”

Representative Keith English, escorted in by Representative Ron Hicks (r), quickly approached his desk, pushed the vote button, and just as quickly left the House floor. The republican majority stood and applauded.

The override vote was 109-46.

Governor Jay Nixon (D) made the following statement:

Gov. Nixon issues statement on Senate Bill 509 veto override

May 6, 2014

Jefferson City, MO

Gov. Jay Nixon today issued the following statement regarding the legislature’s override of his veto of Senate Bill 509:

“Missouri families and businesses know that public education is the best economic development tool there is, and that is why I vetoed Senate Bill 509,” Gov. Nixon said. “While scaled back from last year’s billion-dollar House Bill 253, Senate Bill 509 fails to prioritize or adequately protect public education at a time when quality public schools are more important than ever to our ability to create jobs in the global economy.  And while its authors may have delayed its impact, Senate Bill 509 remains a very real threat to the principles of fiscal discipline that have helped us maintain our spotless AAA rating for decades.  As I have from Day One, I will continue to manage the budget with the resources available and keep our state moving forward.”

Rough translation: Representative Keith English won’t be sitting next to me at the next Democratic Party dinner.

Meanwhile, the rest of us are royally screwed.

Previously:

New Missouri Rule: if the governor governs right of center you can’t call him a “liberal” (July 1, 2013)

Bill signing Kabuki (July 12, 2013)

Rep. Chris Kelly (D): HB 253 – “I’d like to know what your opinion is.” (July 19, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): probably not gonna sustain the Governor’s veto of HB 253 (August 19, 2013)

Sec. of State Jason Kander (D) to Texas Gov. Rick Perry (r): You forgot about that Medicaid thing? (August 23, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) to UCM on HB 253: I don’t care, I’d rather be the new Speaker Pro Tem (August 24, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): your constituents know what you’re doing to them (August 26, 2013)

HB 253: Because those dissolute leeches at the public trough should shut up, that’s why! (August 28, 2013)

Missouri Democratic Party on HB 253: Yes, yes, let’s talk about Texas Gov. Rick Perry (r)…. (August 28, 2013)

AG Chris Koster (D) to Speaker Jones (r) on HB 253: you all certainly made a mess of things… (August 29, 2013)

Speaker Tim Jones (r) and HB 253: hone your legal analytical skills litigating birth certificates (August 30, 2013)

HB 253: any way you slice it (September 11, 2013)

HB 253: Watch out – It’ll be baaaaaaaaaack (September 11, 2013)

SB 509: once more, with feeling (April 17, 2014)

SB 509: “….We’d like to think that most of them are not simpletons….” (April 18, 2014)

SB 509: Governor Jay Nixon (D) strikes back (April 22, 2014)

SB 509: dueling on Twitter (April 22, 2014)

SB 509: Would you like some whine with your bill? (April 23, 2014)

SB 509: strange gyrations (April 23, 2014)

The Missouri GOP, Evel Knievel and political stuntsmanship (April 24, 2014)

SB 509: the folks back home ain’t buying what they’re selling (April 24, 2014)

SB 509: in a wingnutshell (April 28, 2014)

SB 509: the folks back home ain’t buying what they’re selling – part 2 (April 29, 2014)

SB 509: thank the FSM (or the deity of your choice) for Kansas (May 1, 2014)

SB 509: veto it is (May 1, 2014)

SB 509: Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) Veto (May 2, 2014)

SB 509: That’s a mighty interesting legal citation you got there… (May 2, 2014)

SB 509: “Brawndo! It’s got electrolytes!” (May 3, 2014)

SB 509: You were expecting anything else? (May 5, 2014)

SB 509: not so much these days (May 6, 2014)

The face of shame (May 6, 2014)

Via Twitter:

Yael T. Abouhalkah ‏@YaelTAbouhalkah

Shameful but par for GOP political talking points. MT @J_Hancock Senate votes 23-8 to override Nixon’s veto of tax cut bill. 4:36 PM – 5 May 2014

All the usual suspects we presume.

Previously:

New Missouri Rule: if the governor governs right of center you can’t call him a “liberal” (July 1, 2013)

Bill signing Kabuki (July 12, 2013)

Rep. Chris Kelly (D): HB 253 – “I’d like to know what your opinion is.” (July 19, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): probably not gonna sustain the Governor’s veto of HB 253 (August 19, 2013)

Sec. of State Jason Kander (D) to Texas Gov. Rick Perry (r): You forgot about that Medicaid thing? (August 23, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) to UCM on HB 253: I don’t care, I’d rather be the new Speaker Pro Tem (August 24, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): your constituents know what you’re doing to them (August 26, 2013)

HB 253: Because those dissolute leeches at the public trough should shut up, that’s why! (August 28, 2013)

Missouri Democratic Party on HB 253: Yes, yes, let’s talk about Texas Gov. Rick Perry (r)…. (August 28, 2013)

AG Chris Koster (D) to Speaker Jones (r) on HB 253: you all certainly made a mess of things… (August 29, 2013)

Speaker Tim Jones (r) and HB 253: hone your legal analytical skills litigating birth certificates (August 30, 2013)

HB 253: any way you slice it (September 11, 2013)

HB 253: Watch out – It’ll be baaaaaaaaaack (September 11, 2013)

SB 509: once more, with feeling (April 17, 2014)

SB 509: “….We’d like to think that most of them are not simpletons….” (April 18, 2014)

SB 509: Governor Jay Nixon (D) strikes back (April 22, 2014)

SB 509: dueling on Twitter (April 22, 2014)

SB 509: Would you like some whine with your bill? (April 23, 2014)

SB 509: strange gyrations (April 23, 2014)

The Missouri GOP, Evel Knievel and political stuntsmanship (April 24, 2014)

SB 509: the folks back home ain’t buying what they’re selling (April 24, 2014)

SB 509: in a wingnutshell (April 28, 2014)

SB 509: the folks back home ain’t buying what they’re selling – part 2 (April 29, 2014)

SB 509: thank the FSM (or the deity of your choice) for Kansas (May 1, 2014)

SB 509: veto it is (May 1, 2014)

SB 509: Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) Veto (May 2, 2014)

SB 509: That’s a mighty interesting legal citation you got there… (May 2, 2014)

SB 509: “Brawndo! It’s got electrolytes!” (May 3, 2014)

Not that he cares.

“….the University of Central Missouri and public education and the rest of the State of Missouri could not withstand fulfilling all the responsibilities that you fulfill every day and lose this much support and us sustain the requirements of what it takes to build a future….”

The constituents of Representative Denny Hoskins (r), the Speaker Pro Tem-elect of the Missouri House, know who he sold out for that leadership position.

Dr. Chuck Ambrose, President of the University of Central Missouri, spoke about the impact of a veto override of HB 253 on the institution.

Dr. Chuck Ambrose, President of the University of Central Missouri, speaking in Warrensburg

on the “State of the University” – July 26, 2013.

“….I do think it’s really important to note, that all the things that we are doing, to be as efficient and effective as you’ve been, there is a limit….”

The transcript:

[….]

President Chuck Ambrose, University of Central Missouri: ….But there are storm clouds, right, that, uh, have not left us. Matter of fact, uh, this would be the third consecutive fiscal year that we’ve entered in to thinking about where we are and where we can go. And, and certainly, the consideration, this lists the Senate bill, but now the House bill [HB 253] that will be considered, uh, most likely, uh, in veto session. Uh, at some estimates, could disrupt the state revenue, uh, and this is more the best case, by six hundred million dollars. At worst case, uh, it could disrupt funding for the University of Central Missouri and all of the other state agencies by one point two billion dollars.

Uh, and, I want to give specific appreciation, uh, because we have a strong board, uh, who supports us, uh, and engages in those things that are most important. Uh, but on Friday, uh, our board President, [Marvin] “Bunky” Wright, uh, made certain that both the Senate and House delegates here on our local district knew that the University of Central Missouri and public education and the rest of the State of Missouri could not withstand fulfilling all the responsibilities that you fulfill every day and lose this much support and us sustain the requirements of what it takes to build a future. And, uh, Governor Wright, I, I want to thank you, uh, for that because [applause] I was [inaudible].

And let me just say, he said it in a way that was very clear. Uh, I probably would have batted around a bit. Uh, but, uh, I do think it’s really important to note, that all the things that we are doing, to be as efficient and effective as you’ve been, there is a limit. Uh, and the consideration [veto override vote on HB 253] that’s moving forward here in the next couple weeks and, and happens at September the, uh, eleventh and twelfth in Jefferson City, uh, could be, uh, a, as the Governor [Jay Nixon] has indicated to me, debilitating for the momentum that we have currently if we lose that much revenue.

And, so, uh, needless to say, uh, and, and I would like to, to make this a very firm transition point in our thinking, uh, institutional decision making today, uh, has gotten to be quite simple. Matter of fact, the number of decisions, uh, it takes to drive this institution forward are basically these: How many students do we have? How much are they not, not only how much can they pay, but how much are they willing to pay? How much is the state going to provide us in state appropriations? How much is our health care going to cost? And after those decisions, some of which, which we have no control over whatsoever, how much money do we have left to help us do what we do every day and care for those in our community?….

[….]

Who in their right mind would vote to cripple one of the largest employers and productive public institution in their own district?

Previously:

New Missouri Rule: if the governor governs right of center you can’t call him a “liberal” (July 1, 2013)

Bill signing Kabuki (July 12, 2013)

Rep. Chris Kelly (D): HB 253 – “I’d like to know what your opinion is.” (July 19, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): probably not gonna sustain the Governor’s veto of HB 253 (August 19, 2013)

Sec. of State Jason Kander (D) to Texas Gov. Rick Perry (r): You forgot about that Medicaid thing? (August 23, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) to UCM on HB 253: I don’t care, I’d rather be the new Speaker Pro Tem (August 24, 2013)