State lawmakers holding off on sending bills to Gov. Greitens’ desk

As lawmakers work to pass and send a mandatory budget bill to the governor’s desk by the end of the week, other bills already agreed upon in both chambers aren’t moving forward.

Lawmakers in both the House and the Senate told ABC 17 News Wednesday chamber leadership has decided not to send bills to Gov. Eric Greitens for final approval until they absolutely have to.

“I think it was a good decision,” said Sen. Caleb Rowden, R – Columbia. “I think it was something that actually helped calmed what seemed to be some rising tensions in the Senate. I think that made some of the Democrats feel more comfortable about maybe waiting and not putting these bills on Governor Greitens’ desk right now.”

House Speaker Todd Richardson and Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard have until May 30 to send bills approved in both chambers to the governor’s desk for signature.

“I do think the legislative leadership, Speaker Richardson, President Richard, and really everybody, just recognized in the absence of a leader in the governor’s office right now, because of the issues he’s dealing with that we had to step up to the plate,” Rowden said.

House Communications Director Trevor Fox said waiting to send bills to the governor is common.

“The House and Senate typically wait until after the regular session ends to hold a bill signing session where the bulk of the truly agreed bills are signed by the Speaker and the President Pro Tem so they can be sent to the Governor,” he wrote in an email. “For example, last year that signing occurred on May 22. That is when most bills, including the budget bills, were then moved on to the governor for his consideration.”

So far three bills have been sent to the Governor for his signature, including one signed by Greitens Wednesday appropriating money “for supplemental purposes for the expenses, grants and distributions of the Department of Economic Development.

The House passed the budget Wednesday evening and the Senate adjourned at 9:15 p.m. close to finalizing it. The budget bill is required to be at the governor’s desk by Friday.

Rep. Kip Kendrick, D – Columbia, said the budget has been a good distraction this week.

“We’re doing everything we can to focus on finishing up the session strong,” he said. “That being said, it still continues to be a distraction. I have a feeling next week with the trail starting it’s going to be a major distraction in the last week of session.”

The regular legislative session ends at 6 p.m. on May 18. Lawmakers will gavel back in for the special session the same day at 6:30 p.m.