Late last night, the Missouri State Senate voted to pass House Bill 1, the economic development bill containing, among other things, the Distressed Areas Land Assemblage Tax Credit and the Quality Jobs Tax Credit.
The vote was 25-7 with one absence.
Among those voting in favor of the bill were Senators Maida Coleman and Rita H. Days. The two announced last week they will be hosting a forum on “land assemblage and the potential impact on the community” on Monday, September 10, from 6:00-7:30 pm at Harris-Stowe State University.
They will be joined by State Representatives Esther Haywood, Juanita Head-Walton, and Robin Wright-Jones; and former State Rep Amber Boykins.
St. Louis City’s other two senators, Harry Kennedy and Jeff Smith, also voted in favor of the bill, which now heads back to the House today and a conference committee possibly this afternoon.
The Missouri House and Senate both came back into session today to revisit the economic development package (HB 327) previously vetoed by Governor Matt Blunt. Of course, included in that package is the controversial Land Assemblage Tax Credit.
There was not much action today. In fact, the House was only in session long enough to first and second read the bill and refer it to committee for a hearing.
That hearing is scheduled for noon tomorrow. Check PubDef.net tomorrow afternoon for video from the hearing.
The term of St. Louis Public Schools’ chief executive officer may be even shorter than many predicted.
Governor Matt Blunt’s appointment to the Special Administrative Board of the city schools, Rick Sullivan, has yet to be confirmed by the State Senate, and is unlikely to be unless his senator, Joan Bray, sponsors him.
Blunt appointed Sullivan after the legislature ended its last session. As a recess appointment, Sullivan would normally not have to be confirmed until the senate came back in January.
But as the state legislature reconvenes this week, there is growing speculation that Blunt will withdraw Sullivan from the CEO post to avoid his senate rejection and reappoint him again after the special session.
UPDATE:Â Â According to Senate Minority Leader Maida Coleman, unlike a veto session, during a special session of the Legislature, the senate carries on with all its normal business, including confirmation of appointments.
The senate is scheduled to take up the confirmation of roughly 45 gubernatorial appointments during this short session. Unless they are withdrawn, that would include Sullivan and Board of Education appointee, Derio Gambaro — both of whom, at this point, do not have the support of their home senators.
The Governor’s office has until the last 24 hours of session to withdraw their nominations. He then can renominate them 24 hours after the Legislature adjourns.
When state legislators convene in Jefferson City for a special session next Monday, August 20, they will have a new version of the controversial Economic Development Bill, House Bill 327, to review. HB 327 was vetoed last month by Governor Matt Blunt because of the overall size and cost of the final bill.
According to House Speaker Rod Jetton, the “Son of 327″ will be sent to committee on Tuesday, August 21. Numerous programs, including the Neighborhood Assistance Program, the Small Business Tax Credit and the Youth Opportunity Program, have been removed from the bill to lower its overall cost. But the bill’s most controversial part, the Land Assemblage Tax Credit, remains — although it has been reduced from $12 million allowed annually and $100 million cumulatively to $10 million annually and $95 million cumulatively.
The cut is estimated at $70 million, bringing the total cost of the bill to $51 million, not counting the “New Markets” program that begins in two years.
On Thursday, August 16, at 10:00 a.m., State Representatives Jamilah Nasheed and Jeanette Mott Oxford will host a bus tour of the properties owned by developer Paul McKee. McKee, whose companies own more than 500 properties in northern St. Louis, is seen by many as the developer who would most benefit from the passage of HB 327 as it is written.
PubDef will be reporting from the special session in Jefferson City next week and following the negotiations as legislators, lobbyists and residents try to reach a compromise that allows north St. Louis to benefit from needed investment, while not cutting all but just one or two would-be developers out of the project.
St. Louis State Senator Jeff Smith was by Chris Koster’s side today as the Harrisville senator announced his crossover to the Democratic Party this morning in Columbia.
“Sen. Chris Koster is one of the most respected and capable members of the Missouri Senate,” said Smith in a written statement. “For him to change political party shows that Republicans are in trouble.”
Smith is responsible for leading Senate Democratic Campaign efforts for the 2008 elections. His involvement with Koster may ruffle the feathers of some in his party if Koster jumps into the Democratic Primary for Attorney General as he is expected to announce later today.
In another Smith-Koster connection, Elisabeth Smith, Jeff Smith’s girlfriend and a former staffer to U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, is handling communications for Koster. (Readers may recall this great video featuring a victory kiss between the Smiths on Election Night 2006.)
“The Republican Party has become anti-research, anti-working families and anti-progress – while Democrats seek to move Missouri forward, Republicans want to hold our state back. Sen. Koster’s decision to leave the GOP is another sign that Republicans have become out-of-touch with the average Missourian,” said Senator Smith.
Koster’s change in party brings the number of Democrats in the Senate to 14 Democrats, with 19 Republicans and 1 vacancy.
And fueling allegations by Republicans of a Koster-Nixon conspiracy is a report from a source at this morning’s Columbia announcement that Chuck Hatfield, Jay Nixon’s former chief of staff, not only attended the event but physically carried the podium behind which Koster made his historic announcement.
Just a reminder: Koster will hold a press conference in St. Louis today at 3:00 p.m. in front of St. Louis University High School. Check PubDef.net later today for video.
State Representative and likely State Senate candidate Tom Villa raised just $500 last quarter, well below the amount expected to be shown by his chief rival, State Rep. Rodney Hubbard*.
According to campaign finance reports filed yesterday, Villa received just one contribution last quarter, $500 from the Missouri Rental Dealers Association on June 25. That is the same day the southside Democrat filed papers authorizing his State Rep campaign committee to raise funds for his State Senate bid.
After spending $2,538.19, Villa was left with just $27,280.44.
Meanwhile, Hubbard’s report, which is expected to be filed sometime Monday, is rumored to show more than $100,000 raised.
*Rodney Hubbard is a client of A.D. French & Assoc.
KWMU is reporting that a judge this morning temporarily barred a law that would let lay midwives deliver babies in Missouri.
Cole County Circuit Judge Patricia Joyce has issued a temporary restraining order against the midwives law. She scheduled an Aug. 2 hearing to consider a preliminary injunction. The bill is scheduled to take effect on Aug. 28.
The midwives provision was secretly attached by state Sen. John Loudon (R-Chesterfield) to legislation intended to make health insurance more affordable and accessible to some Missourians.
Several doctors groups sued. They claim the midwife language violates the Missouri Constitution by going beyond the bill’s health insurance title and by changing the bill’s original purpose.
Midwifery is currently punishable by prison time in Missouri.
Here is an interview we did with Sen. Loudon shortly after the controversy broke:
Democratic State Rep. Rodney Hubbard kicked off his state senate campaign with a strong show of support from elected officials, former elected officials, and even some Republicans.
[WARNING: The following video features music containing language which some may find objectionable. NSFW.]
Among those spotted at Friday’s event at the Carr Community Center in north St. Louis:
State Senators Jeff Smith and Chris Koster (R-Harrisonville); State Representatives Jamilah Nasheed, Talibdin El-Amin, and Jim Lembke (R-St. Louis County); former State Reps Yaphett El-Amin, Betty Thompson (D-St. Louis County), and Mark Wright (R-Springfield); President of the Board of Aldermen Lewis Reed; License Collector Mike McMillan; former Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr.; and Committeemen Jesse Todd (18th Ward) and Curtis Royston (27th Ward).
EXTRA: Watch Rodney Hubbard’s full 23-minute speech at PubDef.TV
Gov. Matt Blunt today called for a special election to fill the vacancy in the 23rd Senate District. The special election will be held on Sept. 4, 2007.
Republican Sen. Chuck Gross resigned from the Missouri State Senate effective May 31, creating an open Senate seat in the 23rd Senate District.
Candidates must be selected by party committeepeople and filed with the Secretary of State’s Office no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 31.
There remains speculation that the special election provides opportunity for soon-to-be-term-limited St. Louis Democrat Maida Coleman to also leave the Senate early and accept a gubernatorial appointment.
Coleman’s seat is currently the target of three announced candidates (State Reps. Rodney Hubbard, Tom Villa, and Robin Wright-Jones).
It is said that Blunt might give Coleman an early appointment to pave the way for Hubbard, a St. Louis Democrat with strong relationships with the state’s Republican leadership.
State Senator Jeff Smith, whose sponsorship is needed for Derio Gambaro to be confirmed in January, issued the following statement today:
“Derio Gambaro was a worthy opponent in our race for the 4th District Senate seat and a dedicated public servant during his tenure in the state House.
“However, given the specificity with which I outlined my substantive concerns about the Governor’s earlier nominee, I am disappointed that the administration chose to ignore rather than address the issues I raised. It is unfortunate as well that the administration refused my repeated offers for consultation on this appointment, particularly since I worked throughout the session in a bipartisan fashion on education issues.
“Since it is important that the city be represented on the State board, I will look forward to learning more about Mr. Gambaro’s educational philosophy and qualifications.”
