Nance: Jobs at Claycomo Plant Spared, Amongst Other Bills Passed

At the Capitol

“My dad worked at the Ford Plant for almost 30 years. We all know the importance of Ford’s to our district’s economy and our communities.”

House Bill 1675 has passed the House and is in the Senate. It was tailored to help retain the Ford Motor Company’s Claycomo Plant which is one of metropolitan Kansas City’s largest employers, with nearly 5,000 workers. I co-sponsored the bill with Jerry Nolte of Claycomo. Again, these jobs are important to our communities.

The bill establishes the Manufacturing Jobs Act that is applicable to any qualified supplier or manufacturer that creates or retains jobs. Such job-generating facilities are allowed to retain employee withholding taxes for a period of years. The total amount of withholding taxes retained by all qualified companies under the program is limited to no more than $15 million annually.

The House third read and passed the following bills:

• HB 1788, which would change the laws regarding initiative petitions and referendums, by a vote of 130-24.
• HJR 78, which proposes a constitutional amendment requiring a three-fifths majority vote to amend the Missouri Constitution, by a vote of 98-52.
• HB 1444, which would require certain public governing bodies to hold a public meeting and to allow public comment four business days prior to voting on certain issues, by a vote of 135-17.
• HB 1966, which would change the laws regarding absent uniform services and overseas voters and elections, by a vote of 86-70.
• HJR 64, which proposes a constitutional amendment changing the laws regarding elections, by a vote of 85-72.
• HB 1316, which would change the required notice that certain assessors must give taxpayers when the assessed valuation on real property increases, by a vote of 147-0.
• HB 1786, which would authorize an income tax credit for the eligible costs of bringing conventions or sporting games to Missouri, by a vote of 98-59.
• HB 1473, which would revise the grade required for renewing an Access Missouri Scholarship, combine the award categories, revise the award amounts, and specify that the program will not be terminated, by a vote of 145-10.
• HB 1584, which would change the laws regarding manufactured homes, by a vote of 151-3.
• HB 1636, which would allow the Department of Revenue to issue a special event motor vehicle auction license to an applicant auctioning certain vehicles, by a vote of 131-21.
• HB 2058, which would establish procedures for asserting a mechanic’s lien against residential real property, by a vote of 141-7.
• HB 2252, which would reauthorize the provisions regarding the tax credit for contributions to pregnancy resource centers and extend the expiration date until Aug. 28, 2022, by a vote of 114-39.
• HJR 62, which proposes a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a citizen’s right to pray and worship on public property and reaffirming a citizen’s right to choose any or no religion, by a vote of 134-23.
• HB 1521 and 1302 passed through the House on Thursday. It is a bill that I sponsored which adopts a “Silver Alert” for endangered persons not covered by the “Amber Alert System”. This bill also protects our seniors.

Visitors

Richmond resident and Silver-haired Legislator Keith Hardin was at the Capitol on Tuesday.

The Mushroom Festival is this weekend. Of special interest is the Chip identification program at city hall sponsored by Masonic Lodge #57 in Richmond. Masonic Child Identification Programs (CHIP) is a charitable initiative by North American Masonic lodges to aid in the identification and recovery of missing children. See you there at 9:30 a.m..

Pictured [at right] is the Orrick 4th Grade Class visiting last week.

Kraus: Legislation in the House

House and Senate Begin Budget Negotiations

Both the House and the Senate have passed versions of the thirteen bills that make up the fiscal year 2011 state budget.  The next step was to send the two versions to a conference committee in which members from the House and Senate will work to craft a compromise version of the state spending plan. I expect this process to be complete as soon as today.

The version of the budget approved by the House cuts approximately $224 million from the more than $23 billion spending plan originally proposed by Gov. Jay Nixon. The Senate's version contained cuts totaling more than $450 million. Gov. Nixon asked the Missouri General Assembly to cut $500 million from his original budget recommendations.

Each budget bill will be discussed by a conference committee made up of five members from the House and five from the Senate. Their job is to iron out any differences between the spending plans adopted by the two chambers. The budget bills must be approved by May 7.

House Approves Tax Credit to Attract Sporting Events

Last Thursday, the Missouri House approved a measure, HB 1786, that would authorize a tax credit that supporters believe will help attract major athletic events such as the NCAA Final Four. The bill is meant to make Missouri competitive with states like Ohio and Texas that already have tax credits to attract college sporting events.

HB 1786 would authorize a refundable tax credit equal for either 100 percent of the eligible costs of an approved event or 90 percent of the tax revenues within the market area that are directly attributable to the event, whichever is less. Within 60 days of the conclusion of the event, the director of the Missouri Department of Revenue would be required to determine the amount of tax revenues directly attributable to the event. The Missouri Department of Economic Development would be allowed to issue up to $10 million in tax credits each year.  HB 1786 now moves to the Senate for consideration.

House Approves Change to Open Meetings Law

The Missouri House gave approval Thursday to legislation, HB 1444, that would require earlier notice for certain public meetings.

The bill would require four days notice for meetings on tax increases, eminent domain issues, zoning, tax increment financing and sales taxes. Current law requires 24 hours notice before a public meeting is held.  The extra time would give citizens more opportunity to comment on the actions of local government. HB 1444 now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Run for Hope

Hope Network, First Baptist Church in Raytown, reaches out to those in the community that are in need of food, clothing, shelter, and medical care. On April 30, they are sponsoring a 5K Run for Hope and Family Fitness Walk.  By participating in the event, you can help provide hope for those in need with your $30 registration fee.

I am entering the 5K run event.  Please join me in this worthwhile effort!

The 5K Run starts at 8:30 a.m. on April 31 and the family fitness walk begins at 8:35 a.m. from the entrance on the north side of First Baptist Raytown, 10500 East 350 Highway, Raytown.  You can go to the website to register, become a sponsor, or find more information.

Constituents Asked…

After I ran an article on litter cleanup, several people contacted my office who were curious to know if prisoners are employed to help clean up our roads and highways.  The answer is that the state does make use of prisoner populations for road litter cleanup.  After a rigorous screening to ensure suitability for outside work, about 600-900 prisoners are available to work and they do work every week day.  The prisoners clean up highways within a reasonable distance of the prisons.  You haven't seen them in Eastern Jackson County because the driving distance from a state prison is too far to transport inmates.

With the beginning of the 2010 Legislative Session, the Capitol Report will be issued about once a week. During this time, if you have an event that you would like me to attend or speak at, please contact my office at 1 (573) 751-1459 or e-mail at will{dot}kraus{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.

Tim Jones: Tax Credits for Pregnancy Resource Centers, Public Prayer Amendment, Sensible Economic Development

Mild, calm weather settled smoothly across the Midwest this week with warming sunshine and gentle breezes lightly swaying blossoming flowers and greening pastures.  As the week closed, gathering storm clouds marched menacingly towards the Capitol, encircling the dome as a quiet, yet palpable tension emanated from both Chambers of the General Assembly as Budget Conference Committees were announced and began doing the final heavy lifting of crafting this year's 23 Billion Dollar State Budget.  Important issues regarding our First and Second Amendment rights as well as issues involving sensible economic development were passionately debated and passed on the House Floor as we entered the final four weeks of Session…

"Concentrated power has always been the enemy of liberty." –Ronald Reagan

Tax Credit for Pregnancy Resource Centers

This week the Missouri House gave approval to HB 2252, which provides a continuation of the successful tax credit program for pregnancy resource centers in our state.  As someone who is strongly pro-life, I believe we should have no abortions in our state.  One way to reduce abortions is to help our pregnancy resource centers.  These centers provide resources and education to women who are expectant mothers or recently had a baby and who have no other support network available.   These women and their children deserve and need a helping hand.  These resource centers provide advice on child-rearing, job training, maternity and baby clothes, and referrals for medical care, all at no cost.

HB 2252 reauthorizes this tax credit so Missourians can choose to support them when they file their income tax returns and that will go to support these centers.  It is also important to note these centers are run by the private market, not the government.  Part of being pro-life is supporting and protecting those who cannot protect themselves.  Missouri's pregnancy resource centers are an excellent and cost effective way to do so.

Public Prayer Amendment

The Missouri House gave initial approval to HJR 62 this week.  This proposed constitutional amendment guarantees a person's right to worship and pray on public property without the fear of intimidation.  This is already allowed and protected in the US Constitution, but many people do not fully understand the parameters of the freedom.  The purpose of this amendment is to make it perfectly clear to all Missourians.

The lack of education on this issue is especially important in regard to Missouri school children.  Many students do not understand their rights and often feel intimidated to not show their faith at school out of fear.  HJR 62 makes it clear to all students they are allowed to pray and are free to do so without fear.  To help make this clear, this amendment also requires public schools receiving state funds to prominently display the Bill of Rights of the Constitution.

No one in America should ever feel any pressure or intimidation for expressing their religious beliefs.  Freedom OF Religion was one of the primary precepts on which this nation was founded.  The Missouri House just took another step forward to ensure our freedom of religion is further protected from any infringement.

Maintaining a Balanced Budget

This week I would like to provide you another update on the progress of our state budget.  The budget has passed through the Senate and is now in conference between the House and Senate, which is where differences between the two versions of the budget are hammered out and compromises are reached.  This budget will be balanced without a tax increase, period.  This is something I have been very firm on from the very beginning of my time as your State Representative.  We cannot raise taxes on working Missourians, it is not right and it is bad economic policy.  The last thing in an economic recovery you want to do is raise taxes, and therefore expenses, on businesses and consumers.  In the Missouri House we will simply not let this happen.

To balance the budget without a tax increase we have had to cut expenses, just like nearly every Missouri family has had to do when their revenue declined over the last two years.  These cuts are painful at times, but necessary.  My only wish is the federal government would take a page from Missouri and do the same instead of running up deficits that are bankrupting our future.  In Missouri, leadership on the state budget means balancing it without a tax increase and without deficit spending, the opposite of actions being taken currently in Washington, DC.

House Bill 1786-Sensible Economic Development

House Bill 1786, of which I am the chief sponsor, passed through the House this week with an overwhelming bipartisan majority.  The bill focuses on bringing major events (collegiate and amateur sporting events and not for profit organization conventions) to Missouri that would otherwise not come here.  The legislation is available for use state-wide and is designed to bring economic prosperity to our state.

Through this bill, tax credit incentives are offered to those that hold their events in our state.  For example, next year if the Final Four basketball competition was to be held in Missouri, that game or event would be issued a refundable tax credit equal to 100% of the eligible costs or 90% of the tax revenues within the market area which are directly attributable to the game or event. The tax credits are capped at 10 million dollars.

One of the major components of HB 1786 is its ability to increase tourism in our state.  Large events typically bring in out of state citizens and fans that would be generating new revenue for Missouri, and improve our economy for all our citizens.

HEALTH CARE FREEDOM ACT UPDATE

As many of you know, I am the chief sponsor of HJR 57, the "Health Care Freedom Act". As I have discussed, if it is passed and approved by the voters, it will secure the current rights and freedoms that Missouri citizens have to choose to participate in whatever health care system or health care that they want.  As we have seen, the disastrous aftermath of the passage of ObamaCare continues to dominate our headlines and continues to show us how truly flawed this new federal entitlement is.  HJR 57 was "third read and passed" out of the House several weeks ago by a vote of 109-46 and I am happy to report that I was invited to present the bill to the Senate Committee on Government Accountability just this morning.  The Senate also continues to debate their version of the Health Care Freedom Act (SJR 25).  You may view the legislation at this link:  http://house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills101/bills/HJR57.htm Thank you all very much for your continued support of this very important proposed constitutional amendment, and I will continue to keep you posted on its progress!

Tim's Legislative Platform for 2010

I have sponsored and filed sixteen individual pieces of legislation this Session.  I have co-sponsored numerous other bills.  To review all of the bills that I have sponsored or co-sponsored, please follow this link:  http://www.house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills101/spon/spn089.htm

Fast Facts

• The House inducted James McDonnell, Jr. into the Hall of Famous Missourians last week.
• Missouri has an excellent set of Military Programs designed for and focused upon supporting military children and youth.  One of the goals of the program is to create community support networks for youth who have parents experiencing deployment.  There are many other facets of this great program.  For more information about "Operation: Military Kids" contact:  www.operationmilitarykids.org or http://4h.missouri.edu/programs/military

Personal News & Notes

The last four weeks of Session always seem to be the most interesting and the most intense.  Long days and hectic schedules become par for the course as bills fly back and forth between the Chambers and everyone looks for a good legislative vehicle on which to complete their priorities.  I want to thank all of the great folks who support me back home as we become fully immersed in our work at the Capitol, especially my family and my colleagues at my law firm, DosterUllom.  It is hard to believe that in less than twenty five days the Session will be over and summer will be upon us!

Feel Free to Contact Us!

If my extremely dedicated (and very busy!) Legislator Assistant, Jody Williams, or I can be of any assistance throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact us at 573.751.0562 or by email at jody{dot}williams{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov or at tim{dot}jones{at}house{dot}mo{dot}gov.  We have had many visitors to the Capitol so far this year; if your travels find you anywhere in or around Jefferson City, please do not hesitate to stop by and visit us in Room 114!  Until our next report, I remain, in your service.


On the House Floor with the Glory of Missouri Award winners from Eureka High School (left) and Lafayette High School.

Joe Smith: House Passes Bill Providing Tax Credit Incentives that Attract Major Events to Missouri

House Bill 1786, sponsored by Representative Tim Jones, R – Eureka, passed through the House this week. The bill focuses on bringing major events to Missouri that would otherwise not come here. The legislation is available for use state-wide and is designed to bring economic prosperity to our state.

Through this bill, tax credit incentives are offered to those that hold their events in our state. For example, next year if the Final Four basketball competition was to be held in Missouri, that game or event would be issued a refundable tax credit equal to 100% of the eligible costs or 90% of the tax revenues within the market area which are directly attributable to the game or event. The tax credits are capped at 10 million dollars.

One of the major components of HB1786 is its ability to increase tourism in our state. Large events typically bring in out of state citizens and fans that would be generating new revenue for Missouri, and improve our economy.