The veto session starts next Wednesday, September 12, at noon in the Missouri Senate. SB 749 - the religious liberty bill which ensures that no one is forced to pay for abortion drugs and similar items in their health insurance when this violates their religious beliefs - passed this body easily in May by a vote of 28 yes to 6 no. It takes 23 votes to override the governor's veto so overriding in the Senate should be no problem - but wait - the MCC is hearing some senators who supported SB 749 may not be showing up for the veto session.
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"ABSENT" -- don't let this be your legislator |
The MCC is also hearing about State Representatives that may not show up for the veto session. Again, we need the representatives there in order to override the governor's veto. It will take 109 votes to override in the House. There were 104 House votes to pass the bill in May, but some supporters of SB 749 were absent for that vote. We need them there, however, on September 12 for the veto session.
Things happen - a family crisis, an unexpected accident,
or just a feeling that "they don't need me, they will override it without me." Not wanting to come to the veto session may be even stronger if you lost in the primary election or if you are term-limited and not coming back next year to serve another term.
Well, we do need every Senator and Representative to be there. What a shame it would be to fail to override on SB 749 even though the votes were there but legislators were not present. Being absent is the same as voting "NO". You can't vote by proxy; the Senate Secretary or House Clerk can't say, "Oh, we know the senator/representative supported the bill so just put him/her down as a "YES."
Sometimes you've just got be there to make it count. Before the fifth game of the NBA Championship series in 1997 Michael Jordan woke up nauseated and he threw up numerous times. The team trainer told him there was no way he could play. Jordan played: he scored 38 points, had seven rebounds, five assists and three steals. The
flu game became a legend in NBA history.
Will your legislators show up? Will they vote to override on SB 749? Your contact to them may be just the inspiration they need to make that decision that they will be there.