LEGISLATORS EXPECTING QUIET VETO SESSION

JEFFERSON CITY -- Members of the Missouri General Assembly will gather in the Capitol today for the constitutionally-required annual veto session. But if any news is made it won't likely come from the floors of the House or Senate.

Gov. Mel Carnahan vetoed six of the 177 bills passed by lawmakers earlier this year and there seems to be little interest on the part of bill sponsors to muster the two-thirds vote in each house needed for an override.

Gubernatorial vetoes have been overridden only twice in modern times.

The session begins at noon and can't adjourn until Thursday. Before the House convenes, both parties will caucus to discuss possible overrides.

"It is hard to say what will be taken up for consideration, but no one I have talked to has felt there is any chance of a serious override attempt," said Rep. Larry Thomason, D-Kennett.

Several area lawmakers said they haven't received any letters from interest groups or sponsors of vetoed legislation, urging their support for overrides.

That is a clear indication of disinterest.

Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said decisions to seek an overrides rest with the bill's sponsor. He said last year Carnahan vetoed a property rights bill that had passed 30-1 in the Senate and by an equally overwhelming margin in the House. But the Democratic sponsor declined to press the issue.

"The reality is they don't want to take on the governor," Kinder said.

Sen. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter, attributed the lack of interest in vetoes to Carnahan's working closely with lawmakers during the session.

Sen. Danny Staples, D-Eminence, agreed with Carnahan's veto of a bill he sponsored related to inmate incarceration. One provision of the bill is to prevent inmates from selling book or movie rights for a crime they committed and profiting from it.

But during a conference committee, language was added that would require all inmates to reimburse the state for any medical costs incurred before they were released from prison. Some inmates would not be able to comply with that provision, and the end result is that nonviolent offenders could be forced to stay in prison and occupy space that could better be used for violent offenders.

Staples plans to reintroduce the bill next year with appropriate changes.

Kinder said time won't be wasted during the veto session, because it provides an opportunity for legislators to be brought up to date on state issues and for some committees to meet. He will attend three committee meetings over the next two days.

The session also provides a chance for members of both houses running for leadership posts to court support from colleagues. Leadership elections are held at caucuses within a week of the general election.

For retiring legislators, like Rep. Dennis Ziegenhorn, D-Sikeston, the veto session offers one last chance to walk on the House floor as a member. Ziegenhorn, first elected in 1980, is not seeking re-election.

He's going to use the session to say goodbye.

The 1993 veto session was a bit more interesting, because the governor called a special session to deal with flood relief to run simultaneously.

Some other vetoes by Carnahan deal with splitting Jackson County into two circuit court districts, requiring decisions on where correctional institutions are located and allowing political subdivisions to close geographical information systems.

Carnahan also vetoed bills to limit the time a prisoner can be confined to disciplinary segregation and one that would make changes in an advisory sentencing commission.