Missouri Senate Capitol Briefing |
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| Lawmakers Work Toward Compromise on Economic Development Deal |
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Senate Governmental Accountability Committee Researches Failed Mamtek Deal |
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JEFFERSON CITY — After conducting technical sessions to save taxpayer dollars and constitutionally keep special session going while lawmakers worked on a compromise regarding economic development legislation, the full Senate will return to the State Capitol at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17. At the top of the Senate’s priority list is examining SB 8, sponsored by Senate Leader Robert N. Mayer, R-Dexter, which was passed in the House on Oct. 6 by a vote of 98-48. One of the biggest topics of debate regarding the legislation is the notion of sunsets (deadlines for programs to be reviewed or terminated) on tax credit programs. Many senators would like to see seven-year sunsets on low-income housing and historic preservation tax credit programs, which do not appear in the House version of the bill. When the body reconvenes on Monday, senators will vote on whether or not to send the economic development legislation to a conference committee, where any conflicts would be ironed out between the Senate and House. Another topic that may be addressed next week is the notion of changing the laws regarding presidential elections. Up for possible debate is HB 3, handled by Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, which would move Missouri’s presidential primary from February to March. Legislation Awaiting the Governor’s Signature Special session measures awaiting the governor’s signature include SB 1, sponsored by Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield. If approved, the measure would revise provisions addressing school employee-student communication in SB 54, also known as the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act, which was passed during the 2011 regular session. Under the bill, school districts would be required to submit a written policy regarding student-employee communication by March 1, 2012. Each district must include its stance on the use of electronic media and the Internet, with the goal of preventing improper communications between students and public school employees. Senator Cunningham’s bill would take effect 90 days after adjournment of special session. Another measure passed by the General Assembly is SB 7, sponsored by Sen. Mayer. This bill would establish the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act, also known as MOSIRA. The legislation is designed to attract high-tech science and innovation companies to Missouri. As with SB 1, SB 7 would take effect 90 days after adjournment of special session. However, the bill states that it would take effect only after the passage of SB 8, also sponsored by Sen. Mayer. Senate Committee Continues to Investigate Failed Mamtek Project After a project that included a new factory in Moberly and the creation of up to 600 manufacturing jobs for mid-Missouri fell through, a Senate committee is now responsible for investigating what role the state played in this recent occurrence. The Senate Committee on Governmental Accountability, responsible for all matters relating to state laws, programs and agencies, is charged with researching the collapse of the Mamtek project, particularly the role that the Department of Economic Development played in dealing with the company. Panel members will also investigate how a company received millions of dollars in bonds from the city of Moberly to build a new facility to make artificial sugar. Committee members include Sen. Jim Lembke (chair), R-St. Louis; Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah; Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit; Sen. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield; Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia; Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City; and Sen. Joseph Keaveny, D-St. Louis. The committee conducted its first meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 5, and panel members reviewed submitted information regarding Mamtek, Wi-Fi Sensors in Kirksville, as well as other related businesses. The board conducted its second meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 11, to gather information on and listen to testimony regarding appropriation bonds, EB5 VISAS, and the issuance and sale of municipal bonds. Please click here, or visit the “Hearing Schedule” link on the right-hand side of the Senate website to review the committee’s hearing schedule. Click here to listen to “This Week in the Missouri Senate” from Oct. 6, which highlights senators’ work on the Mamtek investigation. Featured in this report are Sen. Mayer; Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan, D-Independence; Sen. Keaveny; Sen. Lembke; Sen. Schaefer; and Sen. Chappelle-Nadal. To follow these and other issues facing the Missouri Senate, visit www.senate.mo.gov. Visitors can track legislation as it passes through the General Assembly, learn more about their district, or, when the Legislature is in session, listen to streaming audio of legislative debate as it happens. For more legislative news, please visit the Senate Newsroom. There you will find various audio and video programs and other services, such as:
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