HB 650 passed in the spring. Then the Missouri Sierra Club mobilized nearly 1000 members and supporters to contact Governor Jay Nixon, asking him to veto the bill. To his credit, Nixon vetoed HB 650.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately the provisions that gave special privileges to factory farms were in another bill that Nixon had to sign in order to keeps the Department of Natural Resources functioning. The same was the case with the siting exemption for City Utilities, as planned by Rep. Lincoln Hough, who behaved as though he was an employee of the Springfield utility instead of a representative of his constituents.<\/p>\n

But the veto did preserve people\u2019s right to hold Doe Run accountable for their actions.<\/p>\n