– Lawmakers can chose one, Gov. Jay Nixon says: Public education or House Bill 253.
As the message wars move forward over income tax legislation backed by Republicans in the General Assembly that was vetoed by Nixon last month, the governor is using his bully pulpit to build political pressure on members mulling an override.
On Monday, Nixon’s administration presented numbers showing the potential revenue loss for education they believe could happen if the tax cut legislation goes into effect. Nixon’s administration sees anywhere between $250 million (once the law goes into full effect) to $450 million (if the federal government moves forward on the Marketplace Fairness Act) in lost revenue funding if lawmakers override his veto.
“At a time when quality schools and a skilled workforce are more important than ever to competing in the global economy, this reckless fiscal experiment would undermine permanently Missouri’s ability to support public education and other vital services,” Nixon said in a statement. “As these numbers make clear, lawmakers can either support House Bill 253 or they can support public education, but they can’t do both.”
Nixon’s numbers came just a couple days after the Missouri Association of School Administrators announced their opposition to House Bill 253. The district-by-district numbers provide fodder not only targeted to local news media, but at the local representatives themselves — a select, yet important handful of which are reconsidering their votes.
The original vote pulled 103 votes — six short of the constitutional supermajority required to override Nixon’s veto. Three Democrats voted for the bill, while three Republicans voted against the bill. All six members have said they are reconsidering their vote. In addition, eight members were absent for the vote, including two Democrats and four Republicans. Aside from that, already, one Republican — Kirksville Rep. Nate Walker — has said he will not vote to override Nixon’s veto, despite his original support.
While Nixon does not yet have any major money working on his side, the fact that he is governor gives him significant public power, particularly in small towns, like Eldon and Kirksville. In rural Missouri, it is often front-page news when the governor comes to town — allowing him to place pressure on local lawmakers on their own turf, free of charge.
Nixon’s public offensive — which includes highlighting an apparent accidental $200 million tax increase on prescription drugs that Republicans have openly discussed repealing — comes as St. Louis investor and GOP mega-donor Rex Sinquefield has put up nearly $2.4 million in persuit of an override. His group, Grow Missouri, has undertaken a public effort hoping build their own momentum for an override. Essentially, Sinquefield has already spent nearly $12,000 per lawmaker.
The battle is set to wage on as the September 11 veto session moves closer. Republicans have not yet met to discuss whether they will seek an override, but it is likely they will.