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Parson explains line-item vetoes in Missouri budget

On Thursday, Gov. Parson's office issued a follow-up letter to Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, explaining the 18 line-item vetoes.
Jason Rosenbaum | St. Louis Public Radio
On Thursday, Gov. Parson's office issued a follow-up letter to Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, explaining the 18 line-item vetoes.

Gov. Mike Parson is now detailing the reasons why he made several line-item vetoes to Missouri’s fiscal year 2019 state budget, which took effect this month.

The state constitution requires that vetoes of bills or budget line items be accompanied by a letter alerting the Legislature of each veto, and why it was made. While Parson issued explanations for the two standard bills and one resolution he vetoed, he initially did not for the budget cuts.

But on Thursday his office issued a follow-up letter to Rep. Kip Kendrick, D-Columbia, explaining the 18 line-item vetoes. They include shrinking the size of a spending increase for Harris-Stowe University from $750,000 down to $250,000. The letter was written by Parson’s legislative director Justin Alferman, a former Republican state representative from Hermann.

“Harris-Stowe University’s one-time allocation is not an adequate solution for an ongoing problem,” Alferman said. “We are committed to finding a long-term solution to the university’s funding needs.”

Parson also vetoed $153,546 for the Department of Health and Senior Services’ Time-Critical Diagnosis System, which helps get patients to the appropriate-care hospital. Parson said the program’s costs can be absorbed into the department’s overall budget.

But that line-item veto was strongly opposed this week by members of the House budget committee, who said the funding was necessary to keep the program afloat. There’s no word yet if House budget chair Scott Fitzpatrick, R-Shell Knob, will push lawmakers to override the veto in September.

Parson also vetoed the entire $1 million in funding for the Department of Natural Resources’ Contaminated Home-Acquisition Program, which was created for affected residents near the Bridgeton Landfill.

“Recent actions in an agreement with the attorney general’s office and owners of the Bridgeton Landfill ensure that remediation and cleanup efforts will occur, leaving this appropriation unnecessary,” Alferman said.

Follow Marshall on Twitter: @MarshallGReport

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Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.