Three area legislators have reservations about economic development package

Missouri business leaders say the state is being outgunned by its neighbors when it comes to competing for new jobs, but local lawmakers aren't sure the Made in Missouri jobs package is the solution.

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, presidents of the state's three largest chambers of commerce and the president of the AFL-CIO urged support for the Made in Missouri Jobs package earlier this week, and Gov. Jay Nixon will be at businesses in Perryville and Cape Girardeau today urging its passage.

The Made in Missouri package is a collection of bills debated but not passed during the legislature's regular session, which ended in May.

It includes the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act, Aerotropolis tax credits for a foreign trade hub in St. Louis, incentives for data centers and upfront financing for new businesses known as Compete Missouri.

In addition to providing new economic development tools in Missouri, it would revamp the state's tax credit programs saving more than $1.5 billion annually.

The bipartisan economic development deal was announced last month by Sen. Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, and Rep. Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, and has Nixon's support as well. The governor called for lawmakers to return to Jefferson City on Sept. 6 to pass the legislation.

Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, said the proposed package of legislation caters to special interests and has too many loopholes.

"Governor Nixon calls this special session 'Made in Missouri' when the central part of the special session is a tax credit that subsidizes the importation of China-made products," Crowell said. "The special session should be called 'special interests first; taxpayers and Missouri jobs last.' The governor should just issue a proclamation naming September 'special interest month' and be done with it."

Crowell left open the possibility of filibustering the legislation.

"I will do everything I can to prevent the loss of more manufacturing jobs in Southeast Missouri because a few elites in St Louis and elsewhere want the state taxpayers to subsidize to the tune of $360 million the importation of China-made goods. I prefer to buy American," he said.

Rep. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, also said he opposes the economic development package due to language in the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act opposed by Missouri Right to Life. Known as MOSIRA, the program would dedicate a portion of state income tax from new jobs at science and technology companies into a fund to help startups. Wallingford is concerned the language leaves open the possibility that funds could be used for embryonic stem-cell research, which he opposes.

"I love job bills. I'm all for job creation. I'm pro-business, but in my own moral conscience, I can't balance jobs on the backs of unborn children," Wallingford said.

He said he hopes an amendment can be adopted to add pro-life language to that part of the package.

Rep. Donna Lichtenegger, R-Jackson, said she also has concerns with some parts of the omnibus economic development bill.

"I am really concerned with Aerotropolis. I don't see why they have to build new warehouses when we have warehouses right there," she said.

The Aerotropolis portion of the package includes $360 million over 16 years in tax credits for warehouse facilities and airlines to create an international cargo hub at Lambert Airport in St. Louis. Lichtenegger said from what she understands the project will use existing warehouses in addition to building them. The Aerotropolis tax credits are also awarded incrementally, which Lichtenegger supports.

"The good thing is they don't get any of this tax credit money unless they perform. If they do perform and it is a success, people need to realize it will be a success not just for St. Louis, but for the whole state because of the tax revenue."

Lichtenegger said she is aware of the concern raised by some pro-life groups with the MOSIRA initiative and while she considers herself pro-life and has been a member of Lutherans for Life for many years, she would not vote against the bill because of that.

"I've also done some research on the problems with embryonic stem-cell research. They're not using it that much anymore," she said. "We have guidelines and checks and balances. For one organization to stop something because it's not the specific language they want, I'm not going to fall for that."

She said she hopes special session's result will be more jobs for Missouri.

"We need to make this a much more business-friendly state, and until we do, we're going to keep losing jobs to other states," Lichtenegger said.

mmiller@semissourian.com

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