March 8,
2011
Missouri Senate Minority Leader Victor
Callahan Speaks to RCGA Public Policy Council
On March 4th Missouri
Senate Minority Floor Leader Victor Callahan (D-Independence)
spoke to the RCGA's Public Policy Council about
legislative activities in Jefferson City, including his thoughts
on the "Compete Missouri" proposal, the "Fix the Six" business
climate agenda, tax credits, and Congressional
redistricting.
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Missouri Senate Minority Leader Victor
Callahan (D-Independence) addresses the RCGA Public Policy
Council.
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Sen. Callahan noted that he
supports the Missouri Department of Economic Development's
"Compete Missouri" proposal (explained below), saying
that he believes it will lead directly to job creation in the
state. He also urged the business community to seek
"balance and compromise" with respect to the "Fix the Six" business coalition agenda,
noting that the long and difficult legislative process is often
followed by involvement from the Governor and the courts in such
matters, and care should be taken to avoid unintended
consequences. Sen. Callahan also advocated for a
moderate approach to reviewing the state's tax credit
programs, and suggested that Senate leadership bring
this controversial issue up for discussion and resolution so the
session can proceed more smoothly to other economic development
issues. When asked about his role on the Senate committee
in charge of Congressional Redistricting, he said that the
process is just beginning, but that there are many court
decisions to help guide the legislators in drawing lines that are
fair and equitable.
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RCGA Executive Vice President of Economic
Development Steve
Johnson
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Steve Johnson, RCGA's Executive Vice
President of Economic Development, spoke to the Public
Policy Council about some of Missouri's most important economic
development activities and legislative proposals, including DED's
new Compete Missouri proposal, the
Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act
(MOSIRA), and the Midwest China Hub.
Steve lauded Compete
Missouri, which would combine six of the state's current
business incentives, explaining the new program would be
more streamlined and provide greater flexibility.
He also noted that the proposal's "up-front funding"
feature would allow Missouri to be more competitive in fighting
for major economic development deals, including one that
the RCGA is involved in recruiting right now. Steve also
discussed efforts to increase the rate of high-tech start-up
ventures in the region, which he said would be greatly aided by
passage of MOSIRA and the RCGA's "Grow-Me State"
initiative.
Steve also updated the group on the
Midwest-China Hub Commission, which is working
to establish St. Louis as an international cargo hub and to
increase business-to-business transactions and
partnerships. He also praised Sen. Eric Schmitt
(R-Glendale) for his recent filing of legislation (SB
390) to establish the "Aerotropolis Trade Incentive
and Tax Credit Act" to provide incentives for freight
forwarders and related entities to encourage the shipping of
international cargo through St. Louis. Click here to view Steve's presentation.
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Susan
Stauder, RCGA's Vice
President of Infrastructure
and
Public
Policy
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Susan Stauder, RCGA's Vice President of
Infrastructure and Public Policy, also spoke to the
Council on the efforts of the Missouri Transportation
Alliance (MoTA) to address the state's infrastructure
needs. MoTA is a nonpartisan citizen-led group of
transportation stakeholders that is committed to delivering a
sustainable long-term transportation plan for the state to
provide greater safety and spur the economy. Susan, who
serves as MoTA's co-chair of the St. Louis district, said the
group has conducted more than 200 public meetings and held focus
groups across the state to aid in the creation of a comprehensive
transportation funding plan. Funding for Missouri
infrastructure improvements has been reduced by half since
2008, as Amendment 3 funding has run out and federal
funding is dwindling. Susan explained that the Missouri
Department of Transportation will not be able to fully maintain
the state's current road and bridge system, which would have
grave long-term consequences for the state, without an increase
in funding. Click here to view Susan's
presentation.
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RCGA lobbyist Kim
Tuttle
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And finally, RCGA lobbyist Kim Tuttle
provided an update to the Council on the status of the "Fix the
Six" business climate bills, which have continued to
progress in Jefferson City. On March 3rd the
House third read and passed a bill removing the escalator on the
state's minimum wage (HB 61) and a bill to cap the
corporate franchise tax (HB 76), both of which are sponsored by
Rep. Jerry Nolte (R-Gladstone). Also,
Sen. Brad Lager's (R-Savannah) employment law
reform bill (SB 188) passed a preliminary vote in the
Senate on March 2nd and was sent to the Senate Ways
and Means and Fiscal Oversight Committee. A
workers' compensation reform bill, HB 162 sponsored by Rep. Barney
Fisher (R-Richards), was also recently referred to the
Senate Judiciary Committee.
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About Sen. Callahan
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Missouri Senate Minority Floor
Leader
First elected to the Senate in 2003
Represents Senate District 11, which is
located east of Kansas City in Jackson County and includes the
cities of Independence, Sugar Creek and Raytown
Chairman, Progress and Development
Committee
Former Jackson County legislator (1994 -
2002), serving as Chair for six years
Former City Councilman for the City of
Independence (1988 - 1992)
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RCGA Delegation Tours
Ameren Missouri's Nuclear Power Facility in Callaway County
On March 1st an RCGA
delegation led by RCGA Board Chair for Energy and
Environment Tracy Hart, President of
Tarlton, and RCGA Board Chair for Public Policy
Tom Campbell, Managing Partner of Gallop Johnson &
Neuman, toured Missouri's only nuclear power plant
facility in Callaway County. The group was hosted
by Ameren Missouri President and CEO Warner
Baxter.
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Members of the RCGA's Board of Directors,
Leadership Circle, Energy & Environment Council and Public
Policy Council in front of the Callaway Nuclear Plant near
Fulton, Missouri.
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Baxter told the group that Missouri is at
an inflection point regarding energy generation. In
the last 20 years, Missouri energy consumption has grown by 50%,
with demand for power forecasted to rise another 20% over the
next two decades. This demand growth, coupled with
increased environmental regulations and the aging infrastructure
of coal-fired plants, is requiring Ameren to look at new
alternatives for power generation. In their recently filed
Integrated Resource Plan, Ameren describes
three alternatives: the Natural Gas/Nuclear Plan, the Natural
Gas-Only Plan and the Energy Efficiency Plan. Each plan
would require changes in Ameren Missouri's energy
generation portfolio and the
retirement of their oldest coal-fired plants.
Warren Wood, Vice President for
Regulatory and Legislative Affairs for Ameren Missouri,
also discussed a bill (SB
321) sponsored by Sen. Mike
Kehoe (R-Jefferson City) that would allow electric
utilities to recover from ratepayers those permitting costs
associated with early site development for certain electrical
generation facilities, such as a second nuclear plant on the
Callaway site.
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Several members of the RCGA delegation
touring the Callaway plant: (from left) Scott Bond of Ameren,
Darrell
Butler of Burns and McDonnell, Matt Wohl of The Doe Run
Company, RCGA Energy and Environment Chair Tracy
Hart of Tarlton, John Sondag of AT&T,
Cathy
Dunkin of Standing Partnership, Don
Meyer of St. Louis RCGA, John Behr of Schnuck Markets,
and Stephanie Banker of Ameren.
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Warner Baxter, President & CEO of
Ameren Missouri (right), explains the extensive
training necessary to run the control room at the Callaway
Nuclear plant. Those receiving a tour of the simulated
control room included (from left) Paul
Wojciechowski of CH2MHill, and Jeff Blaies and Karen Siebenberger
of Covidien.
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About Ameren Missouri's
Callaway Plant
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Location:
10 miles southeast of Fulton in Callaway County (100
miles west of St. Louis)
Generating capacity: Sole
nuclear power plant in Missouri, generating 1,190 megawatts of
electricity (enough to power 780,000 average households each
year)
Energy Portfolio:
Nuclear energy accounts for 18.5% of Ameren Missouri's generation
and has been a key factor in keeping electrical rates 35% percent
below the national average.
Economic benefit: $9
million in annual property taxes to Callaway County, with about
$6 million going to local schools
Workforce: 1,000+
employees and contractors, with an annual payroll of
approximately $100 million. In 2010 employees had no lost workday
accidents.
History: Opened
December, 1984 and has achieved the fourth highest lifetime
generation among the 104 U.S. nuclear power plants.
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Focus on Illinois:
U.S. Rep. Costello Introduces Bill to Freeze Flood Insurance
Rates
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U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello
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On March 3rd
Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) introduced H.R. 898, which
would prevent dramatic increases in flood insurance rates
in the Metro East by preventing the
implementation of new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
flood insurance rate maps in areas where there is an effort
underway to fix the corresponding levees. Some
7,000 businesses and 150,000 residents in Southwestern Illinois
are affected by the FEMA reclassification, which could have a
substantial negative impact on economic development in the area.
In a news release Rep. Costello
explained, "In most cases, levee repair is a local
responsibility, but at the federal level we should assist
communities that are being proactive in addressing their levee
issues." H.R. 898 contains the same provisions as H.R.
3415, a bill Rep. Costello sponsored in the previous Congress in
response to concern over the decertification of levees in
Southwestern Illinois.
Under H.R. 898, the new flood maps would
not be implemented unless the following criteria are met:
- The levee in question is
determined to have a design deficiency.
- The entity responsible for
the levee has implemented a plan to repair the levee that has
been developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or a licensed
professional engineer, has been approved by the Corps or FEMS, is
based on current design data, will protect against a 100-year
flood when completed, and includes an adequate financing
mechanism.
- The entity responsible for
the levee must also have a levee surveillance and operations
plan, an evacuation plan and a communication plan in place to
qualify for relief under the bill.
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Upcoming Events
March 9 - Biweekly Legislative Breakfast in Jefferson
City
Join us tomorrow for our biweekly
Missouri Legislative Breakfast, sponsored by St. Louis
Community College, at the Doubletree Hotel in Jefferson
City. Stop by anytime between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m.
RSVP to Sherri Bailey at sbailey@stlrcga.org.
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Missouri Department of
Natural Resources Director
Sara Parker
Pauley
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March 25 -- RCGA Energy and Environment
Council
Sara Parker Pauley, Director of
the Missouri Department of Natural Resources,
will speak to the RCGA's Energy and Environment Council on
March 25th from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the
RCGA Regional Collaboration Center. Ms. Pauley leads
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon's efforts to grow the state economy
by accelerating the development of renewable sources of energy,
creating next-generation "green" jobs, and promoting energy
independence. She also manages agencies and programs of
Missouri's state parks and historic sites. She will present
her agency's initiatives and priorities.
The Council will also learn about the greenhouse gas
inventory underway in the City of St. Louis and about the
residential energy efficiency loan program in St. Louis
County. To register contact Sherri Bailey at sbailey@stlrcga.org.
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