The bills, which offered tax breaks to dry cleaners, restaurants and power companies, for example, could help private sector businesses expand, hiring more employees in the process, Stream said.

“It’s the only way we can get business owners out of the recession,” Stream said. “They could then create jobs so people can go back to work: That’s where we’re going to get money for our government in Missouri.”

Stream said he would support trying to override Nixon’s vetoes of the 10 bills, but the Legislature needs to look at each bill and discuss the logistics.

“I clearly believe that when you put money in hands of Missouri people ... that you’re going to grow the economy.”

The Legislature will have an opportunity to override Nixon’s vetoes in a September session, but a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers is needed.

When Nixon first announced his budget cuts, he linked increases for education funding to the 10 tax break bills: Funding for the Foundation Formula, which funds K-12 public schools, and performance funding for colleges and universities would be the first restored if the Legislature sustained his vetoes.