Sater Comments On Veto Of Welfare Reform Bill

Sen. David Sater, R-Cassville, issued the following statement regarding Governor Nixon’s veto of SB 24.

“I am deeply disappointed with Governor Nixon’s veto of SB 24. Missouri’s sorry distinction as last in the nation in working for welfare requires us to act. SB 24 will give our families the structure and tools they need to succeed by emphasizing work and personal engagement. Instead of embracing the Legislature’s proactive reform of our welfare system, the Governor is sticking to the status quo; a broken welfare system that discourages work and needlessly creates welfare dependency.

Gove r n o r Ni x o n’ s concern that the new lifetime limits for welfare will hurt Missouri families is misplaced. Twelve states have lifetime limits below 60 months and Connecticut has the lowest limit in the country at 21 months; a full two years lower than the limit passed in SB 24. Missouri is not the first state to go in this direction and we are unique in that we are reinvesting the money we save into resources such as child care, education, and transportation assistance and job training for families in need.

It is also ironic that the Governor cites a concern for children in his veto when he has used $200,000 over the past three years in Children’s Division funding to pay fees for the National Governors Association and, as was highlighted in a recent state audit, routinely takes money from the Social Services budget to pay his own expenses.

Maybe the problem is the welfare system itself and the answer is emphasizing work. SB 24 is all about the principles our country was founded upon, hard work and personal responsibility. The best way to help these families is a hand up — not a hand out.

I am confident my colleagues will override the governor’s veto before session ends.”

SB 24 passed both the Senate (25-9) and the House ( 111- 36) with veto- proof majorities just a few weeks ago. The General Assembly will have the opportunity to override the governor’s veto any time before the close of the Legislative Session on May 15.