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Issue: 964 Date: 2/12/2009
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Economic Development Legislation Advances In Missouri House Of Representatives
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| Missouri House Speaker Ron Richard, left, and his House Leadership Team meet over lunch this past week with representatives from Missouri Major Metro Chambers of Commerce. Among those pictured are: Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Anderson, seated next to Richards; Missouri Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan and Dick Fleming, at right. |
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The Missouri House of Representatives passed an economic development bill last week that includes several priority items from our 2009 RCGA Legislative Agenda (an Angel Tax Credit program, which is a lynchpin of the Grow Me State initiative, as well as a Research & Development Tax Credit program and expansion of the State's New Markets Tax Credit program, along with strengthening the State's nationally-recognized Quality Jobs Program).
In this regard, last Tuesday, February 3rd, representatives from Missouri's Major Metro Chambers of Commerce partnered for a joint lobby day in Jefferson City in support of a common agenda focused primarily on economic development, including this legislation. Participating in the day-long meetings with Legislative Leaders and representatives of the new Administration were: Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce President Pete Levi and the Chamber's Senior Vice President for Government Relations Kristi Wyatt; Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce President Jim Anderson and Chamber Vice President for Public Affairs Sandy Howard; Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Dan Mehan and Missouri Chamber Vice President for Government Affairs Trey Davis; Senior Vice President for Public Policy Chip Casteel, and me from the RCGA.
The purpose of this joint effort by the State's metro chambers of commerce was to underscore the importance of moving forward with the Grow Me State initiative to encourage high-tech entrepreneurial activity and help to close the "capital formation gap" Missouri faces relative to other states, as well as other pro-growth programs. We met with a receptive audience, since there is strong focus in Jefferson City currently on getting the State's economy moving once again. We met with the following leaders: Missouri House Speaker Ron Richard (R-Joplin) and his full House Leadership team; Senate President Pro-Tem Charlie Shields (R-St. Joseph); Majority Leader Kevin Engler (R-Farmington); Appropriations Chair Gary Nodler (R-Joplin); Economic Development Chair John Griesheimer (R-Washington); Minority Leader Victor Callahan (D-Independence); as well as with Linda Martinez, Gov. Jay Nixon's designee to be Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
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