FINAL WEEK!

May 12, 2008 - The Missouri legislature begins its final week today and we have work to do.

The mega projects legislation has been passed and awaits approval by the Governor. He is expected to sign the bill. Here is a link to the final printed version of the bill.

Our focus turns to the Quality Jobs and Enhanced Enterprise Zone legislation that contains many of our economic development programs. Although one senator said the bill was caught in a standoff between the House and Senate, the House moved the Senate bill in the days following that declaration and both bills remain viable vehicles. SB 718 is ready for House floor debate and HB 2058 has a hearing again today in the Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee in the Senate. That committee is waiting on figures that show the fiscal impact of all the bills passed this session. Senators wanted that information before deciding what to do with our bill. I believe all involved know that the Quality Jobs and Enhanced Enterprise Zone legislation must pass, along with the other core issues (Grow Me Initiative, Development Tax Credits, etc.), but there were many other items added by another Senate committee to our bill. It is possible many of these items could be removed in a floor substitute for the bill, reducing the fiscal impact.

Developments on these bills will happen quickly and we may not have time to update the blog so please be patient. Contact your senators and representatives and let them know you need either SB 718 or HB 2058 to be sent to the Governor for his signature. You may find your Representative and Senator by using the lookup provided at the right.