The income tax bill that would eventually reduce income tax rates by about a half of a percent is likely to not be brought up in veto session next month, according to Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones (R-Eureka).
Appearing on St. Louis Public Radio's and the St. Louis Beacon's Politically Speaking podcast, Jones said he currently doesn't have the votes necessary for an override of the governor's veto.
"Overriding the veto would be monumental at this point," Jones said. "I likely would not attempt an override."
Jones added that lawmakers' stances on the bill could be in flux.
"Unless those individuals (who are now against the bill) look me in the eye and say 'Mr. Speaker, I'm going to vote for the override,' then there's no reason for me to bring it up."
The Republican caucus will meet in the coming weeks to have more reliable counts of the votes.
Jones' decision comes after weeks of Democratic Governor Jay Nixon traveling the state and deriding the bill, which he says would reduce revenue for the state anywhere from $700 million to $1.2 billion.
"(The governor) has spent an inordinate amount of political capital and an inordinate amount of taxpayer funds on the airplane to complain about a bill that is very likely not going to be overridden," Jones said. "I mean, I think it would be a monumental achievement for us if we do."
On the podcast, Jones discussed a variety of other bills, including the gun nullification bill, which he says stands a good chance of being overridden.
Jones said income tax cuts will be a major focus of the next session should the veto be sustained.
You can listen to the entire discussion here.
Follow Chris McDaniel on Twitter: @csmcdaniel
