The Missouri Senate and House have overridden Gov. Jay Nixon�s veto of a controversial bill to change the state�s school funding formula.

The Senate voted 25-7 to override the veto late Wednesday. Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, voted for the override.

Voting shortly after noon Thursday, the Missouri House completed the override, voting 113-43 to enact the bill over Nixon�s veto.

Nixon said in a conference call with reporters Wednesday after his veto that legislators are more interested in tax cuts for special interests than in funding schools.

Nixon vetoed the bill Wednesday morning.

Senate Bill 586 would place a 5 percent cap on increases in the state adequacy target, which the state uses to determine per-pupil funding.

Funding has fallen short of the target for years. Planned basic aid for K-12 schools next fiscal year would have been more than $400 million short of funding goals. Under the proposal, it�s about $54 million short.

The bill initially passed the Senate 32-0, including a �yes� vote by Schaefer. In the House, the measure passed 116-38. Columbia Republicans Caleb Rowden and Caleb Jones and Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, all voted in favor. Columbia Democrats Stephen Webber and Kip Kendrick voted against it.

Rowden said the bill provides more financial certainty for school districts. He said the governor�s rhetoric is based on fuzzy math.

�This is an important step toward ensuring our children receive a world-class education,� Rowden said.

Nixon said the bill came at a time when the state is trying to improve education standards and set high expectations for students.

�Some members of the legislature don�t share these priorities,� Nixon said Wednesday before the Senate veto override. �Senate Bill 586 would undermine the state�s support for public education. It�s a cynical policy that I cannot and will not support.�

Nixon said local taxpayers are forced to pay the difference when the state doesn�t provide financial resources.

CPS Superintendent Peter Stiepleman said the governor had to veto the bill because he came to Rock Bridge High School on April 16 to rail against it.

�Any support I�d give to Senate Bill 586 would be contingent on the legislature making a commitment to end tax cuts,� Stiepleman said. �Lowering the state adequacy target and continuing to cut taxes will keep us in the same position we�re in now � an inability to fully fund public education.�

Columbia Public Schools received $51.65 million from the state in the current school year. Full funding of the foundation formula would have provided $66.85 million, and the formula under Senate Bill 586 would provide the district with $56.59 million.

Columbia voters on April 5 approved a property tax increase of 65 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, expected to generate about $14.625 million annually.

Kathy Steinhoff, president of the Columbia Missouri National Education Association, said the legislature continues to attack public education.

�The foundation formula needs to be fully funded as written, not redefined to hide major cuts to Missouri�s kids,� she said.

Chris Felmlee, superintendent of the Southern Boone School District, said he appreciated the governor�s effort but that it was symbolic.

�The formula is a mess regardless,� Felmlee said. �As long as communities are willing to shoulder more of the burden for funding public schools, we�re going to have special interests ruling the day.�

He said the measure lowers the bar for funding public schools for the state.

�I need that money,� Felmlee said. �I�m never going to get it because there�s so much silliness going on. They�re intent on cutting taxes for special interests.�