Blunt "Carefully Considering" Kinder Special Session Request

BLUNT WARMING UP TO REQUEST

GOVERNOR PLANS TO MEET WITH LAWMAKERS

KINDER WANTS SPECIAL POST-ELECTION SESSION TO DEAL WITH $103 MILLION DOLLARS IN HEATING ASSISTANCE

"Just this week we saw the first frost, a sure sign that winter is just around the corner and a looming reminder to some that higher heating bills will soon be added to their burden. This is one of the reasons Lt. Gov. Kinder’s call for a Special Session has gained support from a number of community groups who want to help seniors and other vulnerable citizens stay warm this winter," said Gov. Matt Blunt in a statement Wednesday.

"In response to his call, following next week’s election I will visit with House and Senate leaders to discuss the Special Session Lt. Gov. Kinder has proposed. We will carefully consider the request, the availability of funds, and the anticipated demand," Blunt added. "I have said before, and I know Lt. Gov. Kinder agrees, no one should have to choose between heating their home or paying for food or other necessities," he said.

DEMOCRATS HAVE CRITICIZED THE PROPOSED SESSION AS POLITICAL
If you missed it, Watch the KY3 News @ 10 Report HERE

Kinder Renews Special Session Call

Locked in a competitive re-election campaign, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder will renew his call for a special legislative session in Springfield Monday.
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Kinder will join representatives from OACAC (Ozark Area Community Action Corp.) to again call on Gov. Matt Blunt to hold a special session after the election to extend energy benefits to seniors and low-income residents.
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The media event is set for 1:15 p.m. at OACAC on 215 S. Barnes Ave.

Democrat Sam Page is challenging Kinder for Lieutenant Governor

House Easily Approves Economic Package

House Republicans stood behind Gov. Matt Blunt's economic development package today.

The House passed a bill that would create up to $66 million in tax credits for businesses and developers. The 129-20 vote sends it to the Senate for consideration next week.

Republican leaders refused to allow a series of amendments proposed by Democratic members who want to tinker with Blunt's plan.

“Missourians have created nearly 85,000 jobs since January 2005 and thousands of these new jobs relied upon the Quality Jobs Act that we created during my first year as governor. I applaud House members for taking swift action to approve an economic development bill with pro-jobs, pro-growth initiatives including the expansion of the Quality Jobs Act.

The House also passed a bill to finalize a financing plan to replace and repair 800 Missouri bridges.

Both plans now head to the Senate next week.

K.C. Lawmakers Want Tax Repealed

Two Kansas City state representatives plan to introduce an amendment during this week's special session to repeal a tax increase recently imposed on out-of-state residents who work in Missouri, according to a press release.

"Gov. Matt Blunt last month signed into law a bill that eliminated a statutory provision that allowed non-Missouri residents who work in this state to deduct home-state property taxes from their Missouri income taxes. Many Kansas lawmakers have threatened to retaliate by eliminating a similar exemption provided to Missourians who work in Kansas," according to a release sent out by State Reps. Mike Talboy and Ryan Silvey of Kansas City.

Talboy is a Democrat; Silvey is a Republican.

“We must not let this issue escalate into a border war,” said Silvey. “Cooperation with our neighboring states is important to improving Missouri’s economy. This tax was a step in the wrong direction.”

In an Aug. 9 letter, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius asked Blunt to urge the Missouri General Assembly to repeal the tax, which affects “tens of thousands of Kansans.” Sebelius said Missouri’s action “runs directly counter to our attempts at greater collaboration and threatens to hamper future cooperation” between the two states. Sebelius also said retaliatory legislation “would likely have significant support in the Kansas Legislature.” In response letter to Sebelius, Blunt pledged his support for eliminating the tax.

“This tax tells the many professionals who live in Kansas but work in Missouri that they aren’t welcome here and could encourage them to relocate their offices to the western side of the border,” Talboy said. “The first rule of economic development is to keep the jobs you have. If this tax remains in place, the negative ramifications for Missourians may far outweigh any benefits to the state treasury.”

Talboy said Missouri should repeal the tax increase before it takes effect on Aug. 28. Doing so in the economic development bill would be the appropriate given the potential impact the tax could have on Missouri’s economy.