Nance: Job-Creation Priorities Dominate Special Session, Beach At Watkins Mill Still Closed

Throughout this year’s legislative session, the legislature worked together to craft a major job creation bill that would help give our economy a boost. Unfortunately, on the final day, the efforts came up just short.

Throughout the summer months, leadership from both bodies continued working to forge a compromise. In July, an agreement was reached on a monumental jobs bill that will overhaul our state’s job creation incentives and help attract 21st century employers to our state.

The compromise includes incentives to add high-tech jobs, expand job creation and job retention incentives, and open the state’s products to international markets. This package will create various programs that will bring new jobs to Missouri in the fields of science and technology, innovation, construction, and administration. It is estimated that these incentives will create thousands of new Missouri jobs.

To pass this important legislation, the General Assembly must return for a special session next week..

The Governor’s call specifies a number of job-creation priorities the General Assembly will consider during the special session, including:

• Enacting the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act (MOSIRA) to encourage the growth of science and innovation businesses in the state;
  
• Enacting the Compete Missouri Initiative to provide additional incentives and benefits to attract and retain businesses, to streamline and update Missouri’s training programs, and to increase the efficiencies of the state’s business development incentives;
  
• Enacting legislation to increase exports and foreign trade through the development of an international air cargo hub at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport – a project with the potential to create thousands of construction jobs, and thousands of additional jobs once the hub is operational; and
  
• Enacting legislation to help construct and develop high-tech data centers.
  

In his call, Gov. Nixon also asked the General Assembly to take up three additional proposals during the session:

• Enacting legislation moving Missouri’s Presidential primary to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of each Presidential election year;
  
• Enacting legislation authorizing the transition of governing the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department from a board of police commissioners to the City of St. Louis; and
  
• Authorizing tax credits to help attract amateur sporting events to Missouri.
  

In The District

I attended an event a STEM education event on August 18, co-hosted by Bayer Corporation and the Kansas City Area Life Sciences Institute. Nicole (Riley) Riegel, Project Manager for the Kansas City Science Initiative (KCSI), was recognized for her work with Kindergarten through 8^th Grade systemic science education reform program initiated by Bayer Corporation in 2003.

I attended the Tri-County Gala on the 22^nd and ESHS principal Dr. Chris Lake received the ”Volunteer of the Year Award”.

Congressman Sam Graves was in the district for a meet and greet at the “Blue Moon” banquet facility on the 24^th.

Governor Nixon met Clay County Representatives at the Continental Disc Company in Liberty on the 25^th to announce an increase of employment of 10% at the facility. They sell their product internationally.

Also, the beach at Watkins Mill State Park is still closed.