Legislative leaders don’t give much chance for a new issue to be added to the agenda for the special legislative session. Top Senate officers want to focus on the bird in the hand, the bird being Ford, which has told at least one legislator that it will gut the Claycomo factory building where it makes Escapes and Mariners and will rebuild it to make an all-new line of cars–if the legislature provides about 100-million dollars in tax incentives.

Some lawmakers want the governor to add tax breaks for data centers to the agenda, saying there are at least two companies talking of billion dollar projects in central Missouri.

Senate Leader Charlie Shields doesn’t want that issue to distract lawmakers.

Shields says the bill overhauling state workers’ pension plans has to pass first because the savings it generates will offset the loss of tax revenue from the Ford incentives.

listen to news conference with Shields & Engler 12:04 mp3