english made national news in 2014 when he was the only democrat to vote to reduce missouri's state income tax for the first time in nearly a century by voting to override the veto of democratic governor jay nixon. the vote was 109–46 with english providing the pivotal vote. english contended that the governor had spread "misinformation" about the bill. immediately following the vote, english was removed from four house committees by house minority leader and fellow union electrician jake hummel.