Governor Jay Nixon voices concerns over the budget lawmakers sent to his desk

Lawmakers are back home a day early, after passing the state budget ahead of schedule. But that doesn’t mean work is done. They still have a week left to pass bills.

Governor Jay Nixon said one plan probably won’t get his signature. The measure cuts income taxes but doesn’t replace the money with other funds.

That means Missouri could lose more than $700 million a year. The House speaker says the chamber might override Nixon’s veto.

The tax cut issue isn’t the only source of disagreement between lawmakers and the governor. He says there are other areas that have him seriously concerned.

He’s concerned about lawmakers cutting the “circuit breaker” tax credit program. The money would go towards children with mental disabilities. He says the move is irresponsible and unnecessary.

“Picking out one group and then using it in a ploy to attempt to pit groups against each other is not comprehensive,” Nixon said.

If signed by the governor, the repeal of the tax credit would mean low-income seniors will lose about $750 per year. That would save the state about $50 million annually. That money would go to the First Step program and help families with children that have mental disabilities.

Nixon believes the program could still be in peril unless they find other funding that can patch the budget together.

The governor feels like lawmakers had good ideas for tax reform at the beginning of the session, but it regressed as the session wore on.

“Putting economic requirements inside the programs, talking about real and serious caps on a myriad of programs, that’s just no longer in the discussion in the building,” Nixon said.

Nixon also mentioned his disappointment in the legislature’s decision to give the Division of Motor Vehicles only two-thirds of its funding.

They’re holding the money back because of new scanning and retaining procedures at licensing bureaus. The governor claims he’s not going to allow the agency to run on partial funding.

The budget takes effect on July 1.