####Senate sends bills to House of Representatives
Senate Bill 20, sponsored by Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, and Senate Bill 10, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, were approved by the Missouri Senate on Thursday, the first legislation voted through the Senate in 2013.
Both bills focus on various tax programs in Missouri.
SB10 creates a tax credit that aims to attract amateur sporting events to the state. The credit would be available to sports commissions, nonprofit organizations and counties and would offset expenses from bringing amateur sporting events to Missouri, such as collegiate championship games or the Special Olympics.
If signed by Gov. Jay Nixon, it would become law Aug. 28.
SB20 changes laws regarding tax programs in the state, including re-authorizing the tax credit for donations to food pantries, eliminating provisions that allow funds from the Special Needs Adoption tax credit be used for the Children in Crisis tax credit (which will also be renamed the Champion for Children tax credit under SB20), and removing spending requirements for tax credits under the Rebuilding Communities tax program.
It also includes an emergency clause that would make it law immediately after a signature from Nixon.
####House Speaker Jones responds to State of the State address
In a prepared statement broadcast Monday after Gov. Nixon’s State of the State address, House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka, criticized Nixon’s call for expanded Medicaid coverage in Missouri.
“This ploy by the White House to force the hands of states like ours to expand Medicaid must be rejected, and we must develop a Missouri solution that will allow hospitals to continue to provide care, one that doesn’t require a massive expansion of government that Missouri taxpayers simply cannot afford,” Jones said in the statement.
Jones also discussed the recent controversy over the $5.6 million dollar aircraft purchased by the Missouri State Highway Patrol last month.
“And yet, despite (Nixon’s) claims that (education) cuts had to be made to balance the budget, he was able to find nearly $6 million of your tax money to buy a brand new plane,” Jones said. “Pledging your commitment to our children and then failing to support them flies in the face of good governance and leadership.”