In a sudden reversal, Gov. Jay Nixon on Monday said he will not call a special session to appropriate emergency funds for security measures in Ferguson and the St. Louis area after Missouri Republican leaders voiced their doubt over its necessity.
Last week, Nixon alerted lawmakers to a potential funding snag for the Highway Patrol and National Guard's ongoing operations in the St. Louis area. The two entities' increased presence during the unrest, he said, meant it would cost the state more money than initially authorized for emergencies.
Nixon, a Democrat, said he would call a special session to make sure members of the Highway Patrol and National Guard got paid. But after the Legislature conducted an analysis, four Republican leaders cast doubt on the need for the session: Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles; Senate Majority Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin; House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka; and House Majority Leader John Diehl, R-Town and Country.
In a rare case of agreement with GOP lawmakers, Nixon on Monday announced he would move forward with their interpretation of available funding.
"We have an obligation to the people of Missouri and to the law enforcement officers and citizen-soldiers who are working tirelessly to protect them," Nixon said. "This interpretation of the law will allow these essential public safety operations to be funded without the need for a special session."
On Twitter, Jones said Nixon canceled the special session "after (the Legislature) taught him how to read his budget."
The Legislature's analysis found the governor had about $3.1 million in emergency assistance money for the Highway Patrol. He also has $51.8 million in the patrol's operating budget, the statement said.
Additionally, Nixon had $3.2 million left for emergency National Guard pay and $11.6 million left for guard responses to declared emergencies, the statement said.
Jones said the Joint Committee on Government Accountability still will hold hearings on Nixon's decisions throughout the situation, saying lawmakers owed it to Missourians to conduct an investigation into the actions that "made a difficult situation a disaster."
"It is obvious that the people of this state need and deserve answers regarding the many poor decisions made by the governor's office during the unrest in Ferguson, from August through the present time," Jones said, adding that he was contacted by many people who wanted to testify about the governor's "missteps."
Sen. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City, used Twitter to criticize the governor on spending, referring to his controversial decision last year to purchase a new plane for official travel.
"Gov. Nixon called off special session for additional Guard money for #Ferguson," Silvey tweeted. "I guess (he) wants to keep his plane."
(c)2014 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
