Missouri lawmakers are being summoned back to Jefferson City for a wide-ranging special legislative session.
Gov. Mike Kehoe told reporters that three issues will be on the agenda – tax incentives to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Missouri, assistance for tornado and severe storm victims, and numerous infrastructure projects that House leaders killed off just before the final week of the regular session.
“I’ve spoken with leadership on both chambers and on both sides of the aisle, and I’m optimistic that we can work together to make this time count and use the rare opportunity to benefit the future of our state,” he said.
Kehoe acknowledged that there are “raw nerves” and “wounded feelings” over House Budget Chair Dirk Deaton’s decision to pull HB 19 from the calendar, which angered state senators. But the governor hopes leaders will put all that aside.
“I’m asking them to consider that these initiatives that we will put before them are very time sensitive and very needy,” Kehoe said. “Especially when it comes to the disaster relief.”
The tax incentives for building or renovating stadiums are also time sensitive for the Kansas City Chiefs, as they’ve stated that they will announce by June 30th whether the team will stay in Missouri or move to Kansas. Missouri’s neighbor to the west is offering bonds that will pay up to 70% of building new stadiums for both teams if they agree to leave Missouri.
“I’ve talked to the – not only the owners of both the teams multiple times, but their management – and they have some significant options on the table,” Kehoe said. “And I believe if Missouri does not put some sort of offer forward – I’m not speaking for either of those teams – I think the risk is real that they don’t stay here.”
The proposal would cover up to 50% of the costs of any new stadium for the Royals and Chiefs and allow up to 30 years of bond payments that equal the amount of revenue each team generates in a year.
The governor, though, strongly emphasized the need to provide relief to storm victims, citing the severity of the tornado damage to portions of St. Louis.
“I think y’all saw in the news release – it was either FEMA or SEMA, I’m sorry, I forget which alphabet soup, and I don’t say that disparagingly – mentioned that the structural damage in north St. Louis is worse than the Joplin tornado,” he said. “And unfortunately, (there are) a lot of uninsured and underinsured homes.”
He wants the House and Senate to pass legislation that would give income tax deductions of up to $5,000 to homeowners and renters whose homes were destroyed or heavily damaged by the storms.
All three bills to be considered during the special session will be filed in the Missouri Senate. SB 1 will include funding for most, but not all, construction projects that were originally in HB 19, the bill killed by House leaders.
“The (new) mental health hospital (in Kansas City), some bond payments, state parks issues, the crime lab in Cape (Girardeau), etc.,” Kehoe said.
It would also include $25 million for the University of Missouri’s nuclear reactor, which is used for research and manufacturing cancer-fighting isotopes.
The special session begins Monday, June 2nd, at 12:00 p.m. State law limits special sessions to 60 days, but Kehoe is urging lawmakers to work quickly.
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