By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – Missouri legislators have wrapped up their veto session without overriding any of the vetoes handed out by Governor Matt Blunt this year.
That includes one in particular that upset some lawmakers in both parties.
The bill in question would have given the power to vote to the student member of the University Of Missouri Board Of Curators, if the state loses a congressional district in the next U.S. census.
State Senator Chuck Graham (D, Columbia) urged fellow senators to override Blunt's veto.
"Students now pay more in tuition than we provide in state support...they're the investors in the institution, and if anybody ought to have a say, I certainly think they ought to be afforded just one vote," Graham said.
But the override vote failed, 16 to 17. At least 23 were needed.
Senate Majority Floor Leader Charlie Shields (R, St. Joseph) supported the bill during the regular session, but voted "no" on the override attempt.
"The issue will be back again next year, I'm sure...it may be in different forms, (it) may include all the universities in the state as well as the University of Missouri System, but it just didn't get to that level, and I don't think it's appropriate to override the governor's veto on this issue," Shields said.
The Missouri House chose not to override any of Governor Blunt's vetoes.