Two Bad Transportation Vetoes

I wish Missouri had a line-item veto for more than just budget bills. That way, Governor Nixon could have vetoed the part of HB 430 he didn’t like concerning billboard laws, and leave intact the other good parts of the bill. Especially — and if you visit here much you probably know where this is going — the parts of the bill that substantially changed and reduced Missouri’s ridiculous requirements for mover company licensing.

The other veto is just strange. It is not that I support the bill as much as I find the reason for the veto perplexing. The Governor vetoed HB 1008 because he felt it might authorize toll roads in Missouri. Of course, I want more toll roads in Missouri. But the legislation says nothing about tolling, and the author of the bill, Rep. Thomas Long, says it has nothing to do with tolls. But even if it did have something to do with tolls, allowing private parties to finance and operate highways and bridges would be good for Missouri’s economy, not harmful.

I repeat that I think Missouri should allow line-item vetoes for more than just budget bills.

And a hat tip to Combest for the original link to the story.