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Bill Would Require Lawmakers to Disclose Tax Credits Received

March 4, 2008 By

State lawmakers would have to include any state tax credits they receive on their personal financial disclosure statements under a bill being considered by a House committee.

Rep. Shannon Cooper (R-Clinton) says he got the idea during hearings of the Interim Tax Policy Committee in which it came to light that a few Missouri legislators received tax credits, but none had to disclose them to the public. Mostly, lawmakers received tax credits for their investment in ethanol plants. Cooper doesn’t mind the practice, but does mind the secrecy.

Cooper’s bill also would require that lawmakers disclose tax credits acquired by their spouse or their dependent children. HB 1674 would require the tax credits be disclosed on the personal financial disclosure statements filed as public records with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Information supplied by the Missouri Department of Agriculture indicates that eight current state lawmakers or their spouses have received thousands in new generation tax credits, mainly for investments in ethanol plants, but also bio-diesel, pork processing and dairy. Some have received as little as $500 with one state representative’s family topping $200,000 in agriculture tax credits. A number of former state legislators also have received substantial sums in new generation tax credits.

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Legislature, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , ,

Bartle battles B5 bill; debate stalls

February 26, 2008 By

Before Missouri can have B-5, urban and rural opposition has to get out of the way. .

The push to do for Missouri’s soybean growers what the ethanol mandate has done for corn growers is on in the state senate where debate has stalled on a bill saying almost all diesel fuel in Missouri should be blended with five percent biodiesel. The legislation is similar to the ethanol mandate that went into effect January 1 requiring almost all gasoline sold in Missouri to be ten percent ethanol.

Opponents charge the plan is a false economy that uses taxpayer money to produce a product government will force taxpayers to buy, and the diversion of food crops to energy production will drive up food costs. .

Senator Wes Shoemeyer, a supporter of the biodiesel mandate and part-owner of an ethanol plant, claims the biodiesel mandate will help break American independence on foreign oil. "Sometimes there are some things that we deem patriotic enough to say we have to create a market," he argues. But opponent Matt Bartle of Lee’s Summit says he has seen more "horrible ideas wrapped in the flag of patriotism marched off the cliff." Bartle says this is another of those ideas.

Bartle suggests changing the bill to require half of the biodiesel produced in taxpayer subsidized plants in Missouri to be sold within the state. Sponsor Bill Stouffer of Napton says Bartle’s idea is impractical because Missouri motorists do not use enough diesel fuel to consume that much biodiesel.

Opposition led by Bartle and the length of the debate so far has forced Stouffer to set the bill aside for another day.

Download Bob priddy’s story (:61 mp3)

Filed Under: Legislature Tagged With: ,

Blunt Wants More Ethanol Incentives

January 4, 2008 By

Governor Matt Blunt (R-MO) wants more tax incentives to encourage more ethanol use. He’ll ask the Legislature to give tax credits to gas stations that install equipment to sell E-85 – a fuel mixture that’s 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol. He also wants motorists who buy E-85 to get $500 in annual tax credits.

Blunt also wants to give ten percent state income tax deductions, or $1,500 in deductions, for people who buy hybrid vehicles.

It’s not a new idea. State Senator Luann Ridgeway (R-Smithville), whose district includes the Claycomo Ford plant, had suggested something similar in previous legislative sessions.

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: , ,

Romney Fundraising and Spreading the Message in Missouri

October 1, 2007 By

As we move closer to Missouri’s February 5th Presidential Primary we can expect to see more of the candidates spreading the word and looking for money in the Show-Me State.  Republican Presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney  (R-MA) spent a good part of Monday in Missouri, attending events in Springfield and the St. Louis area.

In an interview with the Missourinet, Romney says he realizes the importance of Missouri for any Republican with eyes on the White House.  Romney already has the support of Governor Blunt and House Speaker Rod Jetton.  Part of his Monday visit saw the announcement of the Romney for President Missouri Legislative Leadership Team, made up of nine State Senators and State Representatives who will help organize grassroots efforts throughout the state.

During the interview, Romney discussed such issues as agriculture, energy, healthcare, and the war in Iraq.

He says the United States must embrace alternative fuels, including ethanol and biodiesel, which are important to Missouri agriculture.  On healthcare, Romney proposes a plan similar to the one he instituted when he was Governor of Massachusetts – a plan in which states would craft their own ideas, using private insurers to make sure everyone is covered.  He says his plan is superior to the proposal being floated by Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton (D-NY), who is talking up the merits of a national healthcare plan.

On the war in Iraq, Romney says Iraq must not be left as a safe haven for al-Qaida and other terrorists from which they could launch attacks on the U.S. and other countries.  He says the U.S. must leave the Iraqi military in a position in which it can defend Iraq.

To hear the entire interview with Governor Romney, go to www.missourinet.com.

Download/Listen: Governor Mitt Romney interview with Steve Walsh (10:00 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With: ,

Prominent Lawmaker Disturbed by Audits of Tax Credits

September 18, 2007 By

A prominent state lawmaker says he’s greatly disturbed by audits which question the effectiveness of two agriculture tax credits.

Rep. Shannon Cooper (R-Clinton) sits on the Joint Committee on Tax Policy and is chairman of the powerful House Rule Committee. Cooper is concerned about state audits that claim the New Generation Cooperative Incentive Tax Credit Program and Agricultural Products Utilization Contributor Tax Credit Program cost the state $50 million and produce very few jobs.

Cooper says, "If you looked at the information provided to us by the State Auditor’s office, there’s no reason in the world why we should continue either one of those programs"

Cooper says he understands many farm interests support the two tax credits as a way to spur rural economic development, but he says lawmakers have a responsibility to get the greatest return they can on its tax credits. Cooper says he believes lawmakers need to make a thorough study of every tax credit.

The two tax credits sunset in 2010. Cooper is awaiting a study of the tax credits from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri. He says if the FAPRI study presents similar results, it might be best to let the credits end.

Download/listen Brent Martin reports (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Legislature, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , ,
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