Holden offers ideas to boost economy by creating jobs

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As Democrats and Republicans bicker over how to best address Missouri's financial problems in the upcoming state budget, all agree the long-term solution is job creation.

Gov. Bob Holden held a day-long summit on job growth last week at the Governor's Mansion in which he outlined a plan to strengthen the Missouri economy.

With manufacturing sector jobs that were once the backbone of the state's workforce moving overseas, Missouri must develop a technology-based economy, he said.

"Whether we are ready or not, the good jobs of tomorrow will depend on our ability to provide the knowledge and skills that all industries will need to thrive and grow in our state," Holden said.

Holden's plan rests on five broad points:

Strengthening education to develop a skilled work force.

Increasing competition through targeted tax cuts for businesses.

Reinvesting in the urban core and rural communities.

Improving the state's transportation infrastructure.

Reforming government regulations.

With revenue in short supply, Holden said his initiatives will have to be funded largely through existing resources.

Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said he was disappointed Holden seemed to be emphasizing government as a solution. Kinder noted that most of those attending the summit, including himself, were state employees while there were only a handful of business representatives.

'No-call' comments

The Missouri AARP and other proponents of tightening loopholes in the state's "no-call" telemarketing law were cranky last week after House Majority Floor Leader Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, took action that effectively kills a bill that would do so.

However, House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, R-Warson Woods, came to her lieutenant's defense and blamed the bill's sponsor, state Rep. Rick Johnson, D-DeSoto, for attempting to score political points by deviating from House protocols.

"He is the one that ended the life of this bill," Hanaway said.

After his bill got bogged down in committee, Johnson invoked a rarely used constitutional provision to force the measure on to the House debate calendar. The next day, Crowell used his power to move the bill to a different calendar where unwanted legislation goes to die.

Although the no-call law is popular, many Missourians are frustrated because some telemarketing companies aren't subject to its restrictions. Johnson said if his bill to eliminate some of those exemptions made it to the House floor, passage would be a slam dunk.

"Right now the only thing stopping it is House leadership," Johnson said.

But Hanaway noted that the tactic Johnson employed has always spelled doom for legislation, even during the days of Democratic House control.

"It would have been a lot better if Rick had worked harder to get this passed by the usual means," Hanaway said.

Conceal and carry

As it has in past attempts, Southeast Missouri's House delegation was unified in support of legislation that would allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons.

The bill cleared the House by an announced vote of 108-33. But House passage of the measure has long been considered a given. The true test will come in the Senate, where similar bills have died in the past.

If it passes in the upper chamber, it could face Holden's veto. The affirmative House tally fell one short of the number needed to override the governor, but some conceal-and-carry supporters likely were among the 22 representatives who were out of the chamber at the time of the vote.

Opponents said the issue was decided in 1999 when 51.7 percent Missouri voters rejected the idea. The current proposal doesn't call for a referendum.

"This bill is an insult to the people of this state," said state Rep. Barbara Wall Fraser, D-St. Louis.

Supporters noted the current legislation requires higher training standards for those seeking concealed weapons permits and has greater restrictions on where weapons can be carried.

"What happened in 1999 and what is happening today are two entirely different bills," said House Speaker Pro Tem Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill.

mpowers@semissourian.com

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