Jefferson City — Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, today announced that the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee and the full Senate have approved the nomination of James H. Buford of St. Louis to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.

Buford, the president and chief executive officer of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis since 1985, joins the seven-member commission, which develops, recommends and implements ways to prevent and eliminate discrimination in employment, public accommodations and housing.

“I cannot think of a better candidate than James Buford for the Missouri Commission on Human Rights,” Sen. Smith said. “He is a longtime advocate for social and economic parity and has demonstrated remarkable skill as a force for racial unity in the St. Louis metropolitan region.”

Buford currently chairs the St. Louis Connectcare Board and serves on the executive board of the St. Louis Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the board of Downtown St. Louis Partnership, Fair St. Louis, and the St. Louis Science Center.

On the state level, Buford was appointed to the St. Louis Public School Board in 2005. He also was previously appointed as secretary of the St. Louis County Board of Elections by the late Governor Mel Carnahan. His numerous awards and honors include the 2005 Mentor St. Louis Award, the Whitney M. Young Award from the Boy Scouts, the St. Louis Community College Distinguished Alumni Award and the Brotherhood-Sisterhood Award presented by the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

A graduate of Elizabeth College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, with a degree in human services administration, Buford also holds honorary doctorate of humane letters degrees from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Webster University and Harris-Stowe State University, both in St. Louis.

“James Buford works tirelessly to promote the St. Louis community, to provide hope and opportunities for young people and is a wonderful public servant whom I greatly admire,” Sen. Smith said. “I look forward to his service on the commission and know the citizens of Missouri will benefit from his knowledge and experience.”

The controversial $800 million tax credit for a Canadian airplane manufacturer has been killed this morning in the Senate Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight Committee.

The so-called “Bombardier” deal, named after the Canadian airplane manufacturer who would benefit from this tax credit, the largest in state history, was killed in committee this morning by a vote of 5-2, with Senators Jeff Smith (D-4), Rita Days (D-14), Wes Shoemeyer (D-18), Brad Lager (R-12), and Rob Mayer (R-25) voting against it.

UPDATE #2 ON MAY 1ST:  A slimmed down version of the deal passed the senate today. In this audio, from Jason Rosenbaum from the Columbia Tribune, Senator Charlie Shields explains the differences:

UPDATE #3: The Senate press release:

Jefferson City — Missouri senators advanced a mega project tax credit plan today allowing the state to work to bring an airplane assembly plant to the Kansas City Region. The measure, House Bill 2393, handled by Senate Majority Floor Leader Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, and co-handled by Sen. Luann Ridgeway, R-Clay Co., could trigger a Montreal-based company to invest $400 million into building a passenger jet assembly plant at the Kansas City International Airport.

“We want Missouri to be open for business that brings great paying jobs to our residents,” Shields said. “This is a phenomenal deal for taxpayers, because we have safeguards in place to make sure the company creates jobs before any tax dollars are issued through tax credits.”

The company, Bombardier, has confirmed it is considering a site at Kansas City International Airport to invest $400 million to build a passenger jet assembly plant that, when at full capacity, would employ approximately 2,100 workers paying an average wage of $63,000 annually. These jobs could spur thousands more indirect jobs in the region and state.

The company, which also owns Learjet, would invest a total of $3.2 billion in research, development and structure for the project, but is seeking assistance from Kansas City and the state.

The bill clarifies what the Missouri Department of Economic Development can offer in state assistance through existing programs including the Enhanced Enterprise Zone and Quality Jobs Act programs, capping tax credit investments to $240 million dollars over an 8 year period. The state programs would be coupled with local resources in Kansas City to help bring this aerospace economic development and investment to Missouri.

Ridgeway said Missouri’s plan requires Bombardier to repay tax credits issued by the state.
“We protect taxpayers by not allowing any tax credits to be issued until the company has created jobs. Plus, we would collect royalties on the company’s product, meaning taxpayers recoup the money issued through the tax credits. Ultimately, between the company’s repayment and the new revenue generated from thousands of new jobs, that state and taxpayers would get a net increase of more than $200 million dollars.”

The assembly plant would produce a new, fuel efficient, less costly, 110-plus seat commercial aircraft. It will be the first new commercial aircraft assembly facility in America since 1968.
The bill now returns to the House for final approval to become law. To track the legislation visit www.senate.mo.gov and do a “keyword” search for HB2393.

“I wholeheartedly endorse Jane Cunningham for the Missouri State Senate,” Ashcroft said in a written statement. “I have known Jane, and her husband Gary, for thirty years. I can vouch for her integrity, her energetic work ethic, and her commitment to advancing legislation that provides tax relief, economic vitality and a quality education for all children. She has served with distinction as a Missouri State Representative for eight years, Chair of the critical House Education Committee and in leadership positions nationally. Jane has my enthusiastic support. ”

“I’m obviously thrilled to have General Ashcroft’s endorsement,” Cunningham said. “His unparalleled reputation as a man of ability, principle, faith and fairness propelled him to an amazing career of public service for which Missourians and Americans are grateful and stand proud.”

Cunningham also announced that Ashcroft will be the honored guest and speaker at an event for her State Senate race to be held in St. Louis County on Monday, June 16th.

Rep. Connie Johnson, who is also running for 5th District Senate seat, posted her second Limited Activity Report in a row, reflecting less that $1,000 raised in the last six months.

Rep Tom Villa, who decided not to run for the seat after all, had made a personal loan to his campaign of $165,000. The latest campaign reports shows that money was returned on March 15.

Rep. Robin Wright Jones, who had just $8,527.09 in the bank last quarter, has not yet posted her quarterly report. [UPDATE:  Wright-Jones’ report shows $11,250 raised, and just $8,227 in the bank.]

* Rodney Hubbard is a client of PubDef.net publisher Antonio D. French.

KMOX Radio reported Tuesday that the Missouri Senate candidate met with the Board to discuss allegations Johnson lived outside of the 61st District last year.

In the report Johnson admitted to moving into a house outside of the district last fall to take care of her mother.

“(T)he fourth Commandment said honor thy mother and thy father (if I didn’t do that) everything I did in life would fail,” she told KMOX.

Johnson told KMOX she still owns property in the 61st district and considers it her legal residence. She said she has since moved back to the home.

Johnson is one of three candidates seeking to replace the term-limited Sen. Maida Coleman for the state senate seat. The other two are Rodney Hubbard* and Robin Wright-Jones.

*Hubbard is a client of PubDef.net publisher Antonio D. French.

State Rep. Connie Johnson sent a letter to Firefighters Local 73 Tuesday stating she would not “seek nor accept” any endorsement from the union due to the “racial discrimination” she has seen in the St. Louis City Fire Department.

Johnson is currently running for the Fifth District Senate seat.

In the letter addressed to Chris Molitor, president of Firefighters Local 73, Johnson writes how she was invited along with other Fifth District candidates to meet with Local 73’s board last week, but did not attend due to her opposition over the department’s behavior surrounding the ousting of embattled Fire Chief Sherman George last year.

She sent the letter to Molitor stating, “In the eyes of most of our St Louis community - particularly the African-American community - the fact that we have a fire department that is essentially segregated is repulsive.”

“And what makes matters even more alarming is the additional fact that we have a Union that defends and even appears to take pride in this segregation. Local 73 cannot escape either responsibility or accountability for this current state, and I cannot and will not ignore my duty to stand and fight against it.”

Johnson wrote that she is a staunch supporter of organized labor but could not support a group that possibly “engineered, the most racially divisive event to occur in this city in years.”

It is unclear if Johnson was ever likely to receive Local 73’s endorsement.

Johnson is one of three candidates seeking to replace the term-limited Sen. Maida Coleman. The other two are Rodney Hubbard* and Robin Wright-Jones.

*Hubbard is a client of PubDef.net publisher Antonio D. French.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRFfcH0H1E8

“There are so many members of the community who put their time and effort towards a good cause without any recognition,” said Sen. Smith. “This is a way to show these important members of our community that we appreciate their efforts.”

The Missouri Senate produces a themed calendar each year highlighting some aspect of Missouri’s history or culture. This year will be the first to include submitted entries from the public. Sen. Smith will select two nominees from the 4th District, and these two individuals, families, or groups will be submitted to a panel of volunteer judges who will select 12 finalists for the calendar.

A nomination form can be found online at www.senate.mo.gov by clicking on the “Know a Hero?” link. Submissions need to be received by Sen. Smith’s office by April 30, 2008.

“I encourage anyone who knows a candidate to please submit their name for this project,” said Sen. Smith. “I look forward to reviewing these stories and learning about the many people making a difference in the 4th District.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e2Jw5Az7Ak