Kraus: Special Session In Flux

As you may have gathered from watching the news or reading the paper, the jobs and economic development package – key legislation in the legislature’s special session efforts – has been and continues to be an uncertain target. The Senate sent a version of the bill to the House last week. Speculation indicates that the House has been considering a bill that does not include seven-year sunsets on the two largest tax credits, low-income housing and historic preservation, which would be unacceptable to the Senate. A sunset provision does not necessarily kill a credit; it allows the General Assembly to review the credit and determine if it is still a benefit to the state, as well as cost-effective for the taxpayers. Therefore, members of the Senate, including myself, feel strongly that the sunset provisions must remain part of any bill that is passed. The House expects to debate its compromise bill on the House floor on Friday morning.

Because of the likelihood that things could change very quickly, I’ll bring you more information in next week’s report, when we hope to have a final outcome.

Town Hall Meeting

Don’t forget! On Thursday, Sept. 29, Rep. Jeannie Lauer, R-Blue Springs, and I will be hosting a town hall meeting in Blue Springs from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Blue Springs Country Club on 1600 NW Circle Drive.

The focus of the town hall will be to provide information on the legislative special session and veto session and to discuss the emphasis for the upcoming 2012 regular session. In addition, Blue Springs Councilmen Dale Carter, Jeff Quibell, Chris Lievsay and Kent Edmondson will be in attendance to discuss local issues.

These town hall meetings are important to me because they give me the opportunity to interact on a personal level with the constituents of the 8th Senatorial District. It is a vital way to keep members of the local community up-to-date on activities within the Capitol and upcoming issues and events. I look forward to speaking with concerned citizens and addressing any questions they might have.

I hope to see you there!

Jackson County Commuter Alternatives

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, an open house will be held to discuss potential transit options along the I-70 and the Rock Island corridors. It will be held at the Ennovation Center, 201 N. Forest, Independence from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with presentations at 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.. The meeting is hosted by the Jackson County Commuter Corridors Alternatives Analysis Project Partnership Team. For more information, please access the project website at: www.kcsmartmoves.org/projects/jacksoncounty.aspx.