Gov. Jay Nixon says his appointment of a Missouri lawmaker to the state parole board was based on merit and not politics.
Several Republican senators have said they intend to block the confirmation of former House member Dennis Fowler to the parole board because Fowler helped sustain Nixon's veto of an income tax bill last year. Some senators said the appointment looks like a political reward from Nixon.
Nixon said Thursday that such accusations are "blatantly false." He said Fowler had a long law enforcement career and the appointment had nothing to do with any votes Fowler cast as a lawmaker.
Fowler resigned from the House to accept Nixon's appointment last month. That left Republicans with 108 House seats — one shy of the two-thirds majority needed for veto overrides.
