TheChat: Jay Nixon defends his choice to veto concealed carry bill

Good morning.

▪ “The protections we have in place are working. Changing those at this particular point would make Missouri more dangerous.” — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announcing that he would veto a sweeping gun-rights bill that would allow the concealed carry of firearms without a permit.

Now the question is whether the GOP-led General Assembly will override that veto in September when lawmakers reconvene. The bill passed with enough support to achieve an override if legislators stick with their original votes.

▪ “Senator Blunt has chosen to endorse someone who is an extremist and unfit to be president of the United States.” — Democratic Senate candidate Jason Kander on his opponent’s decision to back Donald Trump for president.

Kander thinks “the Trump effect” will drag down Blunt in his re-election bid in Missouri. Blunt isn’t buying it.

▪ “It is fascinating to me how Washington politicians think doing this would be a magic trick. It is not a magic trick. States do it all the time.” — Kander on how states manage to routinely balance their budgets.

Kander has vowed to oppose any federal budget that carries a budget deficit. Blunt also favors balanced budgets. Kander is seeking to expand his Democratic base with this issue and appeal to independents and even moderate Republicans.

▪ “Normally, people want to speak at national conventions. It launched Barack Obama’s political career.” — Stuart Stevens, a longtime Republican strategist who helped to craft the party’s 2012 convention, on the dearth of Republicans interested in speaking at the GOP National Convention.

The reason: Trump. With 70 percent disapproval ratings, Republicans don’t want to be associated with The Donald.