Poll Shows Marginal Support For Pension Sales Tax

TOO CLOSE TO CALL

Less than a week before Springfield's big decision on a police and fire pension tax, a new poll released exclusively to Ky3 News shows a closely divided contest.

The Missouri State University poll shows a slight, but barely measurable edge for those supportive of a pension sales tax.

"I'm not that surprised," said polling director Brian Calfano of the results. "I would've been more surprised if it looked like a blow out on either end," he said.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

Down The Stretch They Come

'09 SESSION REACHES FINAL STRETCH
Closing Bell Rings Friday @ 6 p.m.

With just hours left in the 2009 legislative session, Senators are close to a deal on a major economic development bill, crime legislation is in conference and there are fresh doubts about a healthcare agreement.

But never say never in Jefferson City.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

AP Ponders A Session of "No"

With about 24 hours left in the legislative session, Missouri's wire service notes that major initiatives are currently stalled.

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Lawmakers have been unable to reach agreements on large bills dealing with economic development, health care and abortion.

POINTS OF CONTENTION:

• Senators are stuck over whether to limit the amount of tax credits that can be approved to renovate old buildings.
• Legislators are still wrestling with language that would expand Missouri's 24-hour informed consent law to have an abortion.
• Disagreements remain on a proposed expansion of healthcare.

Session ends 6 p.m. Friday

Champion: Jobs Bill Not Important If "Not Done Right"

Springfield Sen. Norma Champion said she supports a ceiling on state historic tax credits but not a complete sunset, and isn't sure the Senate will even approve a jobs bill before the session is over.

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"I would not be surprised if that doesn't get held up, and, or separated," Sen. Champion said when asked about the status of legislation that would expand tax credits for businesses in Missouri. The legislation has languished in the Senate for weeks because of a debate over whether to reign in different types of tax credits.

"If we vote on a Fair Tax, that would do away with it all, now wouldn't it," Champion said. Asked for her position on tax credits, she added, "I support a ceiling, but I don't support a sunset per say. I think we need a plan to look statewide and appropriate them so they are equitably distributed in the state. We have to look very, very hard at what these tax credits are doing. I think we have to get a handle on them, tighten the perimeters of them."

Champion downplayed the importance of passing some type of jobs legislation by next week. "It's important if we can get it settled, but it's not important if it's not done right. This doesn't have to be done," she said.

Champion said she has not been lobbied by the Governor's office for her support.

"The Governor hasn't lobbied me on anything," she said.

ON THE TAX CUT PASSED BY THE HOUSE:

"I can see the logic of it, doing it one-time," Champion said. But she isn't convinced that making it permanent is a good idea. "That I don't know whether we can sustain. We don't know what our revenue will be like," she said.

Let's Make A Deal!

The Governor gladhands in the gallery -- and a key House member says a tax credit cap is being negotiated.

But what say the Senate?

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Gov. Jay Nixon says negotiators are making progress on an economic development bill and he is optimistic it can pass in the final three weeks of the legislative session.

Nixon visited with key lawmakers Wednesday in the side gallery of the House chamber to encourage their efforts on the legislation.

The proposal to expand Missouri's business incentives has been hung up for months by some senators who want to place new restrictions on state tax credits.

In particular, some senators want to cap the amount of tax credits that can be authorized annually for the redevelopment of historic buildings.

Lead House sponsor Tim Flook, a Republican from Liberty, says lawmakers are discussing a cap on the historic preservation tax credits that could have an exception for smaller projects.

Nodler: Filibuster Being Abused

Sen. Gary Nodler is worried about legislative progress in the upper chamber and said recent use of the filibuster is being abused by a couple of Senators.

"A number of Senators are moving toward the opinion that we can't allow a single Senator to consistently stop all bills," Nodler said in response to a question at a recent event in Springfield.

*WATCH FULL ANSWER ABOVE*

Filibusters have blocked a bill that will allow utilities to charge customers more for a future plant and a bill that would change the amount of state tax credits given to businesses.

Nodler also says term limits give some Senators the impression they have "the inherent right to control the entire Senate." Adds the Senate needs to re-examine its rules, but notes that sometimes it's healthy to slow down action.

Tony Messenger wrote more about Sen. Jason Crowell's role in recent filibusters HERE.

Cattleman Complains of Senate Stalemate

ALL BULL?

With five weeks left in the legislative session, some worry a Senate stalemate is putting other important legislative work in peril.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 6 REPORT HERE

While the upper chamber has spent entire nights filibustering the Governor's proposed economic development bill, Polk County cattle farmer Mark Sconce is afraid his priority of implementing tougher penalties against cattle rustlers is stuck in the mud.

"Maybe they feel like they're doing their jobs by filibustering but they're not doing the Missouri citizens or the Missouri taxpayers any good," said Sconce, who spent a day in the capitol last week lobbying for tougher penalties for cattle rustlers.

"Each year, there are major important pieces of legislation that don't survive the legislative process and that's one of the harsh facts of life in the Missouri General Assembly," said Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, at an event in Springfield on Friday. But he said he's concerned that "one or two Senators" are abusing the filibuster process.

"I am worried about the progress because timing is always crucial," Sen. Nodler said.

Engler: "We're Not Near Pressure Time Yet"

UNDER PRESSURE

GOP Floor Leader Kevin Engler believes the Senate may not reach a compromise on legislation to expand tax incentives for businesses until the upper chamber faces the pressure that comes with the end of the legislative session.

"If we don't get these done in two to three weeks, we're ok. It's still possible to get them done," said Sen. Engler, referring to stimulus funding, the Ameren nuclear plant bill and the economic development legislation as three items that will take up the most time and fuel the most contentious debate during the last month of the session.

*5 weeks remain in the legislative session. It ends May 15th*

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On Wednesday, the Senate debated Governor Jay Nixon's top economic priority for more than 10 hours without reaching a compromise. Conservative Republicans want to reign in the tax credits doled out to businesses who set up shop in Missouri by installing a cap. A group of liberal Democrats have been filibustering the bill to prevent a credit cap that they argue would inhibit development and revitalization in urban areas. The House version of the bill would eliminate the current $60 million dollar cap on tax credits.

"I've never seen the same bill being filibustered on both sides of the aisle for opposite reasons," Engler said. "Some things have to be done under pressure. We're not near pressure time yet."

Engler defined "pressure time" as the final two weeks of the session. He said that's when outside influences will begin to take hold and pressure both sides to cut a deal.

"You'll get groups to tell their side, 'you've got to give some reforms,' so we can keep our program or get our bill," Engler explained.

The earliest the Senate will take up the economic development bill again will be in two weeks. Next week's debate will be entirely focused on the 2010 budget.

Tax Credit Talk Stalls Jobs Bill

INCENTIVE or ENTITLEMENT?

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

LOCAL DEVELOPER SAYS DOWNTOWN RENEWAL WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE WITH HISTORIC TAX CREDITS
"They shouldn't mess with it," says Springfield developer Dan Scott

SEN. LAGER PROPOSES REFORMS
"If the business plan is so poor that the private sector won't do it, I don't believe the taxpayer should have to fund it," says Sen. Brad Lager

The entire tax credit debate is tied to Gov. Jay Nixon's Quality Jobs expansion. The bill has been passed by the House, but the Senate is still debating it. The tax credit issue is why a group of Republican Senators are holding it up.

State Senate Attempts Tax Credit Overhaul

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - After weeks of negotiation, senators unveil a plan that would rein in Missouri's tax credits while simultaneously creating new incentives for businesses.

The plan outlined Wednesday is a dramatic overhaul of the job-creation bill backed by Gov. Jay Nixon and passed previously by the House.

The core of the plan still would expand the state's Quality Jobs program, which offers tax breaks to businesses that add jobs with above-average wages and health insurance.

Some senators stalled the bill last month because of concerns that Missouri's tax credits had grown out of control. On Wednesday, they outlined a plan placing a dollar cap on the amount of tax credits that can be authorized annually for each of the state's tax credit programs.

Springfield's South Pier To Get Tax Credits

Springfield's South Pier LLC has been approved for up to $228,736 in remediation tax credits for the redevelopment of property on South Avenue.

Governor Matt Blunt said Monday the tax credits were awarded under the Brownfield Redevelopment Program. South Pier has projected to create a total of 31 new jobs.

The project will involve redeveloping the property at 317 South Avenue in Springfield into
commercial office space, retail and residential lofts. The three-story building consists of approximately 30,000 square feet and has been underutilized for at least 10 years. Only 25 percent of the property has been used in the past five years as a flea market. The building was constructed in 1884 and is contaminated with lead-based paint and asbestos, according to Blunt's office.

The tax credits were provided to cover jobs, investment and demolition costs.