What do energy investments in Iran, increased penalties for harming service dogs, 911 sales taxes and disabled parking spots have in common?
Absolutely nothing. So, good for Gov. Jay Nixon in vetoing this bill that had so many provisions piled together, it was unrecognizable from its original form, which was “for the sole purpose of restructuring statutes based on executive branch reorganizations.”
Nixon said he didn’t necessarily object to the mishmash of new laws that would have gone into effect had he signed the bill, but he believed it would have been a violation of the state constitution to allow it.
We agree. For too long, the practicing of including add-ons to legislation has been troublesome. It gives the appearance of last-minute maneuvers meant to either kill a bill or sneak action through without debate.
The bill was “a sanctuary for orphaned ideas in search of safe transport to becoming law,” Nixon told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
“But it cannot be. And while my action today will unfortunately preclude the enactment of certain important provisions contained in this bill, it will preserve the constitutional safeguards for accountability in the legislative process.”
We would encourage the governor to set a precedent with his actions, even though it will likely mean there are other bills he will have to veto before July 14 — the cutoff for vetoing a bill before it becomes a law.
The Missouri Constitution is clear: “No bill shall contain more than one subject which shall be clearly expressed in its title.”
It’s a provision that guarantees more transparency in government.
Opinion
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Discussion
Our View: Piling it on
- Opinion
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Our View: ‘Why?’ has no answer
Just hours before, there was breakfast and laughter. There were pictures on the walls and memories in every room.
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Our View: Absent from House
We can’t figure out why two Missouri legislators think they should be elected to the U.S. House when it appears they can’t seem to show up to take care of business in the Missouri House.
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Your View: Terrorism is terrorism
In the May 13 issue of The Joplin Globe there was an Associated Press article concerning the New Orleans shooting.
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Your View: Should we be outraged?
Were there effusive apologies following the lockdown of Boston as most of the continent indulged vicariously in the ongoing manhunt?
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Your View: Terrible injustice
I see this Jasper County nuisance law as a terrible injustice on the rights of the residents of Jasper County.
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Other Views: Conflicts in SEC
Money talks. In the continuing dispute over the all-too-cozy relationship between the people who create and sell financial products and the people who rate their risk, the money says: Shut up and let us do what we want.
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Phill Brooks, columnist: Missouri Senate did what Founding Fathers had in mind
George Washington once described the Senate as being like a saucer in which you pour coffee or tea.
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Our View: Fixing failure
Some 1,200 injured workers will finally get the payments they are owed. In its final week in session, Missouri’s General Assembly, through bipartisan efforts, passed a solution to address the insolvency of the state’s Second Injury Fund.
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Herb B. Kuhn, guest columnist: Delaying Medicaid reform could hurt rural Missouri
The Missouri Legislature missed a rare opportunity in the just-ended session to transform Medicaid and make a real difference in the lives and health of hundreds of thousands of our neighbors. Rural Missouri has the most to lose from the legislature’s failure to act.
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Kevin Wilson, guest columnist: When fear wins out, so do the terrorists
I’m going to make a bold statement that’s sure to draw a lot of comments, but hear me out before reaching for the keyboard to type a rebuttal.
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