VETO SESSION COMES...GOES

The Missouri Constitution mandates that the General Assembly convene each September for two days "to consider those measures passed by the General Assembly but vetoed by the Governor." Each year, these sessions seem to accomplish little, as lawmakers of vetoed bills are disinclined even to bring up their bills for an attempted veto override.

For such attempts to be successful, a two-thirds majority is required in each house. Thus a veto override tends to succeed about once a generation in Missouri. This year was no exception. House members attempted an override of the abortion counseling bill vetoed by Gov. Mel Carnahan, but the attempt fell short when 15 Democrats who had voted for its passage switched and voted against overriding their governor in the fall of an election year. Senators didn't even attempt an override vote, but rather passed a few resolutions, argued over a few more, and did little else.

Another September, another inconsequential veto session.