Three things to know from Missouri's completed veto session

Friday, September 13, 2013

* 10 overrides, 23 sustained: The Republican-controlled Legislature overrode 10 of Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's 33 vetoes. The new laws restrict lawsuits, allow elected officials to vote during meetings by videoconference, and increase the maximum punishment for stealing livestock. They will replace the state's ban on foreign ownership of farmland with a 1 percent cap while requiring state approval, prevent officials from barring celebration of federal holidays and increase the maximum fee for installment loans. Also overridden were a budget item, a bill dealing with foster parents and a measure designed to safeguard county budgets from some clerical errors. But vetoes were sustained for bills that sought to cut taxes; nullify some federal gun laws; require public employees give annual consent before union dues are collected; broaden what constitutes misconduct for unemployment benefits; bar policies infringing property rights traceable to a United Nations resolution; and preventing use of foreign law "repugnant" or "inconsistent" with the Missouri or U.S. constitutions.

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