By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Missouri lawmakers gathered at the Capitol Wednesday for their annual veto session.
That's the time when they're required to meet to consider whether to override any gubernatorial vetoes from ths spring. But Gov. Matt Blunt didn't veto any legislation this year, so the only overrides lawmakers could consider were line-item vetos he made in the budget. No one tried to do that.
Lawmakers also were unable to vote on the restoration of some Medicaid benefits because it was not on the agenda.
Democratic Senator Chuck Graham says Blunt should have called a special session on the issue. "I think the governor really missed an opportunity to restore the workers with disabilities program and to make the MOHELA sale legal and constitutional.
"And I think those two problems are going to haunt him because of his stubbornness and unwillingness to call a special session and fix both of those problems."
Blunt had said he would call a special session if House and Senate members could agree in advance on the workers with disabilities bill, and another that would crack down on fraud by Medicaid providers. But there wasn't enough support for both.