Politics

Gov. Nixon considers upping state regulators' clout in federal utility cases

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:44:01 +0000

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is considering whether to sign legislation that would let state regulators intervene in federal utility cases.

After threatening resignation if key bills failed, Grisamore now says he's staying put

Marshall Griffin — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:20:03 +0000

A Missouri lawmaker who threatened to resign unless one or both of his key bills survived the last day of the 2013 legislative session is staying put, even though both bills failed to make it out by Friday's deadline.

State Representative Jeff Grisamore (R, Lee's Summit) said his resignation threat was based on frustration with the Senate's inaction on the bills -- Missouri's legislative session has ended, with several issues resolved and several more that came up just short. St. Louis Public Radio's Marshall Griffin takes a closer look at the final day, and at what happens now:

2013 Mo.

"Missouri Works" works its way through the legislature

Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 22:21:33 +0000

Missouri lawmakers have passed legislation consolidating four of the state's business incentives.

The newly created Missouri Works program would be modeled after the current Quality Jobs program, which would come to an end.

1 cent sales tax fails to make it through Mo. legislature

Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:25:06 +0000

A proposed 1-cent sales tax for transportation has stalled in the Missouri Legislature.

The sales tax proposal was projected to generate nearly $8 billion over a decade for state highways, local roads and other modes of transportation such as railroads, airports, mass transit and river ports. Cities and counties would each get 5 percent of the revenues, with the rest going to state projects. Voters would have had to approve the tax in 2014 to enact the proposal.

Legislation would help match special needs students with scholarships

Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:16:35 +0000

Missouri lawmakers have approved legislation that would require education officials to seek grants and donations to help children with special needs such as autism.

Financial resources could be devoted to scholarships or clinical trials for behavioral interventions. Scholarships could be used to help students attend a public school outside the student's home district or a private school.

Tax credit overhaul a no-go this session

Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 20:09:13 +0000

Missouri senators have given up their attempt to pass an overhaul of the some of the state's tax credit programs for businesses and developers.

Supporters of the bill set it aside Friday after Republican Sen. Brad Lager, of Savannah, spoke against it for an hour in a filibuster that could have otherwise continued until the session's mandatory end at 6 p.m. The legislation would have created tax incentives for international air cargo exports, computer data centers and investors in startup technology companies.

Last minute politics: finding funding after a veto

Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:30:44 +0000

Missouri lawmakers have passed legislation that could patch a hole in the state budget for early childhood programs and health care for the blind.

A bill given final approval Friday would transfer $55 million from general revenues into a new fund to finance the programs. The move was necessary because the 2014 budget passed last week by lawmakers called for funding the programs with savings from the repeal of a tax break for low-income seniors and disabled residents who live in rental housing.