Tilley: EcoDevo Measure Boost Missouri's Economy

Since September 6, the Missouri General Assembly has been in special session with the goal of passing a major jobs bill. With nearly 9 percent of Missourians unemployed, we remain committed to the number one issue for Missourians - jobs. Today, the Missouri House took a major step in moving forward a comprehensive jobs bill that will give Missouri’s economy the boost it needs to get back on track.

After hours of debate on the House floor today, the bill [SB8] received an overwhelming bipartisan vote. The bill includes innovative tax incentives, reforms to existing programs, and an across the board tax cut for Missouri job creators.

The bill includes many new incentive programs that will help Missouri’s economy compete in the 21^st century. The new incentives will help attract amateur sporting events to the state, encourage the creation of data storage centers, and create the Missouri Export Act, which creates incentives for exporting Missouri products. In addition to these new incentives, the bill provides funding for job training and creates a fund to both retain companies that are considering leaving our state and attract businesses that are looking for a new location.

The bill also will make dramatic changes that will create hundreds of millions in savings and ensure taxpayer protections for many incentive programs. We lowered caps on two of Missouri’s largest programs and eliminated many underutilized and ineffective programs. With the savings created through these reforms, we passed an across the board tax cut for Missouri businesses.

We believe with this across the board tax cut, along with these tax incentives for high-tech jobs, Missouri’s economy will have the tools necessary to overcome the ongoing recession. The bill now goes to the Senate where we are hopeful that Senators will move swiftly to get this bill to the governor’s desk.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve here in the House of Representatives. As always, I welcome your comments. You may reach me at 573-751-1488, send your e-mails to steven{dot}tilley{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov or write to me at the Missouri House of Representatives, State Capitol, Room 308, Jefferson City, MO 65101.