Economic Development Legislation
(HB 2058)

. Eliminates tax credit cap on Quality Jobs Program.

. Allows Quality Jobs program to be applied to job retention projects.

. Increases Enhanced Enterprise Zone tax credit cap to $24m.

. Creates new Angel Tax Credit to spur investment in start-up advanced technology companies.

. The RCGA asks that its members contact Senate leaders to urge favorable action on HB 2058.

Contact:
Senate President Pro-Tem
Michael Gibbons
(573) 751-2853
mrgibbons@senate.mo.gov

Senate Floor Leader
Charlie Shields
(573) 751-9476
charlie_shields@senate.mo.gov

Fate of Missouri Life Sciences Trust Fund To Be Decided by House-Senate Conference

The Missouri Senate last week dealt a serious blow to the Life Sciences Trust Fund by appropriating only $7.6 million for next year far below the $25.2 million passed by the House earlier this month. The Senate's action forces a conference committee on HB 2007, the Department of Economic Development's funding bill that contains the Life Sciences Trust Fund.

The RCGA supports the House position of $25.2 million for the Fund. This level of funding will add new research projects necessary to build Missouri's capacity in life sciences and raise the state's prominence in this growing industry sector. The $7.6 million offered by the Senate would only continue funding of existing projects approved last year by the Life Sciences Research Board.

The Senate and House did agree to expand the types of projects eligible for funding. Last year, only plant and animal science projects received grants from the Life Sciences Research Board. This year's appropriation would allow medical sciences research in areas such as: medical devices, nanotechnology, drug development and delivery. Enabling the Life Sciences Trust Fund to be used for medical research is a top RCGA legislative priority.

The RCGA urges its members to contact the Senate Appropriations Chairman Gary Nodler (R-Joplin), House Budget Committee Chairman Allen Icet (R-Wildwood), and members of the conference committee to ask that they agree to the House position.

A funding mechanism for the urgently needed repair of five Southwestern Illinois levees has passed the Senate and now heads to the House for further action. Senate Bill 2052, sponsored by Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton) would allow Madison, St. Clair, and Monroe Counties to impose a ¼ -cent sales tax to fund levee repairs to protect more than 4,000 businesses and 150,000 residents from a 100-year flood. The tax would generate the $180 million needed to fix these levees, and then sunset when the reconstruction work is finished. The County Boards in each county must ratify the tax.

The repair of these levees became a top regional priority when FEMA announced last summer that much of the Metro East would be declared a flood hazard area in the new flood insurance maps.  Passage of the bill is one of many actions underway to protect the region, home to major employers such as ConocoPhillips, U.S. Steel, and Midcoast Aviation. East-West Gateway applied to FEMA to designate the area as a Restoration Zone, which would allow residents and businesses to purchase flood insurance at lower rates. A task force of local business, labor and government leaders are meeting to develop a 10-year levee improvement plan. FEMA's first draft of the maps is expected to be released in early summer.

Senate Bill 2052 will be sponsored by Rep. Dan Beiser (D-Alton) in the House. As a top legislative priority, the RCGA will inform Illinois House members on the importance of this bill to the economic growth of Southwestern Illinois. The RCGA commends Senator Haine and the bill's co-sponsor, Senator James Clayborne (D-East St. Louis), for their leadership on this bill. The bill in the House is co-sponsored by Rep. Tom Holbrook (D-Belleville), Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Highland), Rep. Dan Reitz (D-Sparta), Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Collinsville), and Rep. Wyvetter Younge (D-East St. Louis).

Levee Funding Bill
(SB 2052)

. Would generate $180m from 1/4 sales tax levied in Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair Counties.

.  Each County Board must approve the tax.

. Funding would repair 5 levees in Metro East and ensure that area is protected from 100-year flood.

. Bill passed Senate and awaits action by the House.

2008 RCGA Public Policy Speaker Series Kicks-Off With Missouri Gubernatorial Candidates

U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof Leads Off Series with Breakfast Address on May 2nd

The RCGA Public Policy Speaker Series will feature Missouri's gubernatorial candidates, with the first address coming from U.S. Representative Kenny Hulshof, candidate for the Republican Party nomination. 

Congressman Hulshof currently represents the 9th Congressional District, which covers St. Charles County to Boone County and the counties in northeastern Missouri. Elected to Congress in 1996, he serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and on the Health and Trade Subcommittees. He has also served on the House Budget Committee and the House Ethics Committee. Prior to his election to Congress, Kenny Hulshof was a Special Prosecutor for the Missouri Attorney General's Office, prosecuting murder cases across the state.

The other two candidates for Missouri Governor make their presentations in June. State Treasurer Sarah Steelman, running for the Republican Party nomination, will give a breakfast address on June 5th and Attorney General Jay Nixon, seeking the Democratic Party nomination, will speak at lunch on June 20th.

 


All three events will be held at the Noonday Club, located on the 40th floor of One Metropolitan Square.  Cost for each event is $25 per person for RCGA members and $40 for non-members, and includes breakfast or lunch.  To register, go to to the RCGA Calendar of Events page at www.stlrcga.org/events. For more information, contact Marlo Young at (314) 444-1134 or myoung@stlrcga.org.

RCGA Public Policy
Speaker Series - 
MO Gubernatorial Candidates 

U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof
Friday, May 2nd
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

State Treasurer Sarah Steelman
Thursday, June 5th
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Attorney General Jay Nixon
Friday, June 20th
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

All events at the Noonday Club in downtown St. Louis.

Cost per speech is $25 for RCGA members; $40 for non-members.

To register go to the RCGA Calendar of Events page at www.stlrcga.org/events or for more information contact Marlo Young at myoung@stlrcga.org or (314) 444-1134.

University of Missouri-St. Louis Hosts RCGA Legislative Breakfast in Jefferson City

More than 40 Missouri legislators and regional government affairs executives enjoyed the April 2nd RCGA Legislative Breakfast at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, sponsored by the University of Missouri-St. Louis and hosted by RCGA Public Policy Council member Molly Tallarico, Director of Government Relations.  The RCGA hosts bi-monthly breakfasts at the Capitol Plaza from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., so if you are in Jefferson City, please join us!  See Upcoming Events for the final breakfast on April 30th.

Rep. Darrell Pollock, Molly Tallarico, and Denise Hasty of the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis discuss education issues.

(from left) Rep. Ted Hoskins, Rep. Sam Page, and Rep. Jim Viebrock catch up on House business.

UPCOMING EVENTS
                    

. April 29: RCGA Environmental Council from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the One Metropolitan Square Conference Center - Suite 990. Daniel Jay, a LEED-registered architect from Christner, and Monica Fries, an environmental attorney, will provide an national overview of sustainability initiatives in metropolitan regions. A panel of local government officials will describe St. Louis regional sustainability initiatives: Frank Miles, Administrator of Madison County Planning and Development Department, Tim Embree, St. Louis Mayor Slay's Environmental Liaison,  Dr. Dolores Gunn, St. Louis County Director of Health and Mike Duvall, St. Charles County Director of Environmental Services. RSVP to Marlo Young at myoung@stlrcga.org or at (314) 444-1134 by Friday, April 25.

. April 30: RCGA Legislative Breakfast at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., sponsored by Bank of America. For more information and to RSVP, contact Marlo Young at myoung@stlrcga.org or at (314) 444-1134 by Friday, April 11.

. April 30: St. Louis Regional Educational Roundtable - Early Childhood Education 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 Betty Marver of Grace Hill Settlement House and featuring panelists Nancy Fisherman of Pennsylvania's Success by Six and Johnnie Little, Assistant to MO Senator Maida Coleman.

. May 2: RCGA Public Policy Speakers Series - Missouri Gubernatorial Candidates. The first of the planned addresses by each of the three major candidates for Missouri Governor will be delivered by Missouri Congressman Kenny Hulshof,  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 (see company logos at end of the RCGAdvocate). To register, go the RCGA Calendar of Events page at www.stlrcga.org/events. For more information contact Marlo Young at myoung@stlrcga.org or at (314) 444-1134.

. May 6: Small Business Roundtable with U.S. SBA National Ombusdman Nicholas Owens from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. at the Center for Emerging Technologies, 4041 Forest Park Avenue in St. Louis. Mr. Owens will discuss how small business owners can more effectively deal with federal agency regulatory requirements. RSVP to Eric Schneider at eschneider@stlrcga.org or (314) 444-1148.

. 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, 4344 Shaw Boulevard in St. Louis. 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.

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