Nixon Vetoes Ten Tax Break Bills

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has vetoed 10 tax break bills that he says jeopardized the state budget.

The legislation vetoed Wednesday includes measures providing sales tax breaks for computer data centers, power companies and restaurants. Other vetoed bills would grant tax breaks to fitness centers, farmers markets, commercial laundries and people who buy old vehicles.

The Democrat governor says the tax breaks could reduce state revenues by $425 million annually and vowed to announce budget restrictions in the coming weeks to guard against the potential for veto overrides.

Republican legislative leaders dispute Nixon's figures and defend some tax breaks as mere clarifications of policies incorrectly applied by the Department of Revenue.

Lawmakers can consider veto overrides in September. A two-thirds vote is required of both chambers.