Gov. Jay Nixon says he is watching legislation that would require special elections to fill early vacancies in the lieutenant governor’s office and the decision for the state to purchase a $5.6 million plane wasn’t his.
In an afternoon news conference at the Governor’s Mansion on Monday, Nixon fielded mostly questions about the budget proposal he would be presenting just a few hours later during his State of the State speech at the Capitol. But he also gave his first public answers on two issues that many have been watching – the fast-moving elections bill that would clarify how state vacancies are filled and the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s new King Air 250 that will be used by state officials and law enforcement.
The elections bill passed the House last week. It must also be approved by the Senate before it hits Nixon’s desk.
“I don’t do bill review at half time,” Nixon said when asked about his position on the bill.
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The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, has said that he thinks Nixon supports the bill. Nixon said he hasn’t discussed the legislation with Smith.
On the plane: state lawmakers have raised concerns about the purchase and that fact that they were unaware of it until it was a done deal.
But Nixon said he supports the decision by MSHP Col. Ron Replogle to purchase a new plane. Nixon said he thinks the aircraft is a sound long-term investment for law enforcement but didn’t elaborate further.
Nixon often uses the state aircraft to travel to meetings and events in other parts of the state. Others who have used state aircraft in the past year include the Attorney General’s office and the Missouri Department of Transportation.
Replogle attended a meeting today of the Senate Appropriations Committee but wasn’t asked about the new plane. Committee Chair Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, said he plans to ask Replogle for more information at a later date.
The plane purchase has held up the Senate confirmation of Nixon’s nominee for commissioner of administration.
Doug Nelson has been serving as acting commissioner of administration and signed off on the plane purchase in that capacity.
Elizabeth Crisp covers Missouri politics and state government for the Post-Dispatch. Follow her on Twitter at @elizabethcrisp.
