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MAY 5, 2008
- SPECIAL EDITION
Down
The Stretch They Come!
Missouri General Assembly Has Two Weeks
Left To Pass Critical Economic Development Legislation
With two weeks remaining in the Missouri legislative
session, the two major economic development bills (HB
2058, sponsored by Rep. David
Pearce and SB 718 sponsored by Sen. Harry Kennedy) are advancing in
both chambers. Each bill has passed its home chamber, and
last week a Senate Committee approved HB 2058 and a House
Committee approved SB 718. The RCGA urges the House
and Senate Leadership to take up and pass HB 2058 and/or SB
718, which provide critical tools to improve
Missouri's competitiveness in attracting and retaining
businesses.
Both bills eliminate the cap on
the Missouri Quality Jobs program -- the State's most
successful job creation incentive -- assuring this tool is
available as deals develop, rather than risking that funds are
exhausted when a deal requires a timely commitment by the
State. A recent analysis by the Missouri Department of
Economic Development found that the Quality Jobs tax credit
returns $5.63 in new state revenue for each dollar invested,
and has generated some $2.5 billion in new investment in
less than three years. The annual tax credit cap for
the Enhanced Enterprise Zone program would also increase to
$24 million from $14 million under these bills. This
program returns $4.96 for every dollar invested and has created
jobs and investment across Missouri. The growing success of
both programs has caused their tax credit limits to be
reached.
In addition, both bills establish a $5 million
Angel Tax Credit, a key component of the RCGA's
"Grow Me State"
Initiative. The tax credit would stimulate private
investment in advanced technology start-up companies
and help close the State's capital formation gap. Missouri
currently spends only 10 cents per capita on venture capital
programs, compared $2.79 in neighboring states.
The ongoing success of the Quality
Jobs and the Enhanced Enterprise Zone programs in creating jobs
is unchallenged.
In
these uncertain economic times, immediate action is needed to
expand the Quality Jobs and Enhanced Enterprise Zone programs
and to create a new Angel Tax Credit program.
Missouri's future well-being
depends on positive action this year on economic development
legislation.
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House-Senate Conference
Committee Limits Life Sciences Trust Fund at $21 Million
for FY 2009
The House-Senate Budget Conference Committee
agreed for the second year to appropriate money to the
Life Sciences Trust Fund, further strengthening Missouri's
growing research industry. The Fund would receive $21
million in FY 2009, of which $13.4 million would be new money
into the Fund (the remainder pays for commitments made
to FY 2008
projects). The RCGA and partners throughout the
State had sought full funding for the Life Sciences Trust Fund,
an amount near $40 million. However, the Budget Conferees'
recommendation limits new funding to last year's
level. In St. Louis, the Fund directed $3 million to
Washington University's International
Center for Advanced Renewable Energy and Sustainability
(I-CARES) for research on biofuel production and to
the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center for
commercialization of bio-plastics products.
Also, for the first time, this year the Life Sciences
Research Board may fund medical science projects. This
expansion of eligible projects was a major priority of the RCGA,
MOBIO and other partners. Last year, only plant and
animal science projects could receive Life Science Trust Fund
grants. The list of eligible projects for FY 2009 covers
research on plants and animal sciences, medical devices,
biomaterials and composite research and diagnostics,
nanotechnology related to drug development and delivery,
clinical imaging, information technology related to human
health.
HB 2007,the budget bill containing the Life
Sciences Research Trust Fund, must be completed by the
Legislature this week.
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Focus on Illinois: RCGA House-Senate Softball
Game To Feature "Battle Of The Legislative All-Stars"
The 16th annual
RCGA-sponsored House-Senate softball game on May 14th will
provide a good opportunity for legislators to take out
their frustrations on each other - but not in the Capitol!
It has been a contentious last few weeks in Springfield
with acrimonious debates over recall legislation, ethics
reforms, and potential tax increases. The battle on the
diamond, a long standing RCGA and Illinois legislative
tradition, will start at 5:00 p.m. in
Springfield's Lincoln Park, as the House tries to defend
last year's trophy.
But
serious and important issues still remain in Springfield.
The levee repair bill
(SB
2052),
sponsored by Senator Bill Haine
(D-Alton),
has passed the Senate, but no action has been taken by
the House. The bill would authorize Madison, St. Clair,
and Monroe Counties to impose a 1/4-cent sales tax increase to
raise $180 million for repair of five Metro East levees. These
improvements are necessary to adequately protect more
than 150,000 people and more than 4,000 business from a
100-year flood. If
the levees are not strengthened, FEMA will
declare much of the Metro East a flood-hazard area, which
threatens to stifle economic development in the region. This is
a critically-needed action to sustain the strong momentum in the
Illinois portion of the St. Louis region for major industrial,
distribution and commercial development. The RCGA is actively
lobbying the House on this vital issue.
Governor Blagojevich and House and
Senate leaders have also yet to agree on a funding
mechanism for the capital bill. Proposals to increase the state
income tax failed last week, and discussions continue on gaming
expansion and other state revenue
enhancements. Southwestern Illinois cannot afford another
year without a capital bill. The RCGA urges the Governor and the
General Assembly to reach an agreement so that important
educational and transportation infrastructure projects (see
sidebar) can get started and stimulate growth in the
Southwestern Illinois economy.
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U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof Leads
Off Missouri
Gubernatorial Candidate Addresses
to RCGA Members
U.S. Rep. Kenny
Hulshof opened the RCGA's 2008 Public Policy
Speaker Series on Friday, May 2 with an address to more
than 70 RCGA members. Congressman Hulshof is a candidate
for the Republican nomination for Missouri Governor. He spoke on
a wide range of issues, including ethics reform, the
economy, transportation funding, higher education, life science
research, agriculture, and health care.
Rep. Hulshof expressed support of
the Missouri Quality Jobs Program and the
proposed Angel Tax Credit, part of the RCGA's "Grow Me
State" Initiative, to help stimulate the State's
economy and capitalize on the region's growth
potential. The speech was followed by an extended question
and answer session.
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U.S. Rep. Kenny
Hulshof outlines his views on economic development in
Missouri.
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Rep. Hulshof was first elected to
Congress in 1996 and represents the 9th Congressional District,
which includes parts of St. Charles, Columbia, and northeast
Missouri. He will face State
Treasurer Sarah Steelman in the Republican primary this
August. The winner will challenge Attorney General Jay
Nixon, the Democratic candidate for Governor, in
November.
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The RCGA will continue
its Missouri Gubernatorial Candidate addresses on June 5th with
Treasurer Sarah Steelman and June 20th with Attorney General Jay
Nixon (see
Upcoming Events below for more details and RSVP
information).
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| Sustainability
Issues Discussed by RCGA Energy & Environment Council
 The RCGA Energy & Environment Council
started their 2008 meeting series with a strong focus on
regional sustainability efforts in the St. Louis. The Council
meeting was attended by more than 50
environmental professionals, and chaired by Steve
Poplawski of Bryan Cave.
The Council learned about
sustainability initiatives around the country from
Daniel Jay of Christner and Monica
Fries of the St. Louis Regional Sustainability Task
Force, followed by environmental leaders from area counties providing
numerous examples of sustainability initiatives in our own
region. Leah Dettmers, Madison
County Solid Waste Coordinator; Tim Embree, St.
Louis Mayor Slay's Environmental Liaison; Dr. Dolores
Gunn, St. Louis County Director of Health; Mike
Duvall, St. Charles County Director of Environmental
Services all provided stong examples of positive steps being
taken in our region. St. Louis is becoming "greener" and is home
to one of the nation's highest concentration of LEED-certified
buildings, riverfront and water quality restoration efforts by
Great Rivers Greenway and the Metro East Park District, and air
quality initiatives with the Gateway Clean Air Partnership.
The RCGA Energy &
Environment Council will reconvene on June 4 with guest
speaker Bill Barbieri, Director of Renewables
for Ameren, presenting Ameren's Pure Power initiative. (See
Upcoming Events below for more details).
Daniel Jay
(left), of Christner gives an overview of
sustainability initiatives from around the country,
highlighting green practices in Portland, Chicago,
Denver, Austin, and Kansas City. Tim Embree
(right), St. Louis Mayor Slay's Environmental
Liaison, spoke of the City's initiatives for green
alleys, improved air quality through traffic mitigation,
and elimination of bottled water usage by city
employees.
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Leah Dettmers
(left), the Madison County Solid Waste Coordinator,
briefed the group on the county's recycling outreach initiatives
to residents, businesses, and schools. Dr. Dolores
Gunn (right), the St. Louis County Director of Health,
spoke about the new plan for recycling in the
unincorporated areas of St. Louis County. The County
recently made recycling a standard service from waste haulers
and provided single-stream containers to residents to reduce
landfill waste. |
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| Mike
Duvall, the St. Charles County Director of
Environmental Services stressed that thanks to regional
cooperation between counties, 45% of waste is now diverted to
recycling centers instead of landfills. |
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UPCOMING
EVENTS
. May 14: 16th Annual
Illinois House-Senate Softball Game, sponsored by the
RCGA, at Lincoln Park in Springfield. Come watch the members of
the Illinois General Assembly battle to defend their legislative
chamber's honor. For more information, contact Kevin Riggs at
kriggs@stlrcga.org
or
(314) 444-1107.
.
May 20-21: Midwest Energy Policy, Climate Change, and
Energy Security Conference at the
Missouri Botanical Garden. Conference panelists
will discuss climate policy at the federal, state, and local
level, energy security, greenhouse gas emissions and carbon
footprints, energy efficiency, and regulatory/permitting
issues. This conference event is presented by the
Regulatory Environmental Group for Missouri (REGFORM). For more
information and to register click
here or contact Sallie Keeney at skeeney@regform.org or (573)
761-9322.
. May 28:
St. Louis Regional Educational Roundtable - After-School
Programs from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
at the One Metropolitan Square Conference Center -
Suite 990. This is the latest in a series
of rountables hosted by the RCGA and organized by the Friedman
Foundation. Program moderated
by Ron Jackson of St. Louis Kids. To
RSVP, contact Donyale Whitmore-Smith at mcsc2006@yahoo.com or (314)
779-6572.
. June 4: RCGA
Energy & Environment Council meeting from 11:00
a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the One Metropolitan Square Conference
Center - Suite 990. Bill Barbieri, Director of
Renewables for Ameren will speak about the Pure Power
program and the utility's use of renewable energy. To RSVP,
contact Eric Schneider at eschneider@stlrcga.org
or (314) 444-1148.
.
June 5: RCGA Public Policy Speakers Series
- Missouri Treasurer Sarah
Steelman, a candidate for the Republican
nomination. The breakfast will be held from 7:30 a.m. to
9:00 a.m. at the Noonday Club. Cost is $25 for RCGA members and
$40 for non-members. Complimentary admission for all employees
from the RCGA Government Affairs Presidential Sponsors. To
register, go the RCGA Calendar of Events page at
www.stlrcga.org/events or contact Marlo Young at
myoung@stlrcga.org or (314) 444-1134.
. June 20: RCGA Public Policy Speakers
Series - Missouri Attorney General Jay
Nixon, a candidate for the Democrat
nomination. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m.
to 1:00 p.m. at the Noonday Club. Cost is $25 for RCGA members
and $40 for non-members. Complimentary admission for all
employees from the RCGA Government Affairs Presidential
Sponsors. To register, go the RCGA Calendar of Events page at
www.stlrcga.org/events or contact Marlo Young at myoung@stlrcga.org or (314) 444-1134.
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The
RCGAdvocate is published periodically to inform RCGA members
and government officials about important public policy matters
at the state, federal and local levels. It seeks to provide
timely, in-depth coverage on regional issues, and, at times, to
call RCGA members to action. We welcome your comments and
suggestions.
Richard C.D.
Fleming ~ President & CEO ~ (314)
444-1100 ~ dfleming@stlrcga.org
Chip Casteel ~ Senior V.P. of Public Policy ~ (314)
444-1107 ~ ccasteel@stlrcga.org
Susan Stauder ~ V.P.
of Infrastructure & Public Policy ~ (314) 444-1155
~ sstauder@stlrcga.org
Eric
Schneider ~ Senior Director of Public Policy Research ~ (314)
444-1148 ~ eschneider@stlrcga.org
Kevin Riggs ~ Director of Illinois
Government Affairs ~ (314) 444-1108 ~ kriggs@stlrcga.org
Christine Snively ~ Project Manager ~
(314) 444-1144 ~ csnively@stlrcga.org
Marlo Young ~ Executive Assistant
for Public Policy ~ (314) 444-1134 ~ myoung@stlrcga.org
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More than 40 Missouri legislators and
regional government affairs executives enjoyed the last
breakfast of the 2008 RCGA Legislative Breakfast series at the
Capitol Plaza Hotel. This week's breakfast was sponsored by Bank
of America and hosted by RCGA Public Policy Council
members Marilyn Bush and Eric Cowan of Bank of
America's Public Finance Department. The RCGA
especially recognizes Senator Harry Kennedy (D-St. Louis) and
Rep. Neal St. Onge (R-Ellisville) for their consistent
early-riser attendance.
