House leader: Special session to start Aug. 20

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Matt Blunt apparently plans to call lawmakers into a special session starting Aug. 20 to consider an economic development package and a measure that could help speed up repairs to Missouri's bridges.

House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, has sent an e-mail to fellow Republican legislators outlining the governor's plans for the special session. Blunt has not yet officially called lawmakers into session.

Jetton says the economic development bill will include $51 million of tax breaks in its initial year, rising to about $70 million in later years.

The other measure is intended to fix a glitch that has been delaying the Department of Transportation's plan to award a single bid to repair and maintain about 800 bridges.