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Northwest Missouri factory escapes planned closure

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Conagra Brands in Trenton has reached an agreement with Nestle – saving the factory from shutting its doors this year. The deal includes as many as 150 jobs in the northwest Missouri community of about 6,000 people.

Northwest Missouri factory escapes planned closure

Nestle will run Conagra’s factory and manufacture Chef-Mate products cooked and canned in large amounts for use in the food service industry. In 1964, a cooking process was invented in Trenton involving food being piped under pressure to large cans and cooked by steam to sterilize the food while retaining flavor.

Under the agreement slated for completion in May, Nestle will also make products for Conagra.

Trenton Mayor Nick McHargue (mc-HARG) says the announcement will boost the town’s business climate, the entire region, and the quality of life for area citizens.

“This announcement by Nestlé could not have come at a better time for the economic future of our community,” says Trenton Mayor Nick McHargue.

Phil Tate, an area economic development consultant, calls Nestle a world-class food producer Nestle.

“We have been working diligently, with full support of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, to bring in a new owner,” he tells Missourinet affiliate KTTN in Trenton.

Tate is a former state Representative and deputy director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

Nestle’s hiring process is underway.

Missouri’s McCaskill: pharmaceutical industry “took a $50 billion windfall” from tax cut bill (AUDIO)

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Missouri’s senior senator is defending her vote against the federal tax cut bill.

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill (D) speaks at a rally against right-to-work at the Missouri Capitol on March 28, 2018 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) was one of 48 senators who voted against the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017” in December.

“The pharmaceutical industry took a $50 billion windfall from that bill, gave it to their shareholders and didn’t lower the price of prescription drugs a penny,” McCaskill says.

McCaskill, who spoke to reporters at Wednesday’s labor rally outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, says 83 percent of the money will go to one percent of the country, under the bill.

McCaskill also says $1.8 trillion in debt has been added in the last six months, under Republican leadership in Washington.

“All I heard from my Republican colleagues before they took power was deficit, deficit, deficit,” says McCaskill. “And they’ve blown this deficit up to places that one couldn’t even imagine it could go.”

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, views the tax cut differently.

During a January interview with Missourinet, Smith said more than three million people have been receiving bonuses because of the tax cut.

Smith, who represents 30 southern Missouri counties, said during that interview that President Trump’s tax plan would benefit working families in his district.

“You’re looking at a family of four in southeast Missouri that makes $55,000 or less will pay not a penny in federal tax,” Smith said.

McCaskill says she’s glad workers are getting bonuses, but would prefer they receive raises instead. She also says gains by working families will be offset by higher prescription drug prices.

McCaskill is seeking her third Senate term in Washington this fall.

She spoke briefly to reporters after she delivered the keynote at the labor rally, telling Missourinet she believes Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley will win the GOP Senate nomination in August, and will be her November opponent.

“I believe he’ll be the opponent because that’s who the Koch Brothers support and that’s who (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell (of Kentucky) supports, and generally when Mitch McConnell and the Koch Brothers support someone, they’re the nominee,” McCaskill told Missourinet.

Hawley’s campaign spokeswoman, Kelli Ford, responded to McCaskill’s comments, telling Missourinet that “Claire McCaskill has sold Missouri’s vote to Hollywood and she’s taking (former President) Barack Obama out there with her to pick up the cash,” referring to Beverly Hills.

 

Click here to listen to Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill’s full interview with “Jefferson City News-Tribune” reporter Bob Watson and Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth, which was recorded outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on March 28, 2018:

 

Missouri House member wants to crack down on payday lenders

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Many Missourians facing hardship turn to short-term loans to help them meet their financial needs until their next paycheck arrives. Payday loans must often be repaid in 14 days and they come at a price.

Rep. Steve Helms

A state House committee is considering whether to restrict payday loan fees and interest at 35% of the amount of the loan – a reduction from the current 75% threshold. State Rep. Steve Helms, R-Springfield, is sponsoring a bill that he hopes addresses what he says are the most egregious issues of such lending practices.

“I’m trying to strike a balance where you can keep the industry there viable and moving forward because guess what – folks that have bad employment and bad credit, they need somewhere to get these loans,” Helms says.

The bill would not go as far as capping interest rates themselves – rates that Mark Rhoads, an industry lobbyist, says average 400% annually.

“We have always argued that an APR, an annual percentage rate, on a 14-day loan, is just not an appropriate way to look at interest rates,” Rhoads says.

Rep. Rory Rowland, D-Independence, says changes to such loan practices are overdue.

“For us to have not taken action for many, many years. To be 2018 and not take action, I think is just reprehensible,” Rowland says.

Rep. Rory Rowland, D-Independence

He says the industry has a black eye.

“We’re dealing with clientele that has tremendous debt loads, or problems and things like that. I cannot, in good conscience, say that it’s not predatory lending when we’re talking about 400% interest. I just can’t in good conscience look myself in the eye, when I look in the mirror, and say that this is okay,” Rowland says.

Industry representatives are reviewing new changes made to the bill and have not taken a public position on the legislation.

The measure would also:

*Change the number of times a borrower could renew a loan from the current six times down to two

*Reduce the annual licensing fees from the current $500 down to $300 per payday lending location

*Allow an extended payment plan to be used by some borrowers

Labor to rally Wednesday at Missouri Capitol; theme is “paychecks over politics”

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A few thousand union members from across Missouri are expected to travel to the Statehouse in Jefferson City Wednesday to rally against right-to-work and for pensions.

Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh (D-Bellefontaine Neighbors)

The Missouri State Building and Construction Trades Council is organizing the “rally for the middle class,” which begins Wednesday at noon on the Capitol’s south lawn.

The theme of the rally is “paychecks over politics.”

Missouri Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, tells Missourinet U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D) will deliver the keynote address at Wednesday’s rally.

Walsh says other speakers will include State Rep. Clem Smith, D-Velda Village Hills, an active member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399.

Walsh says union member and State Sen. Jake Hummel, D-St. Louis, will speak, along with State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D).

Walsh will also speak, as will retired Roofers Local #20 member Walter Smith. He’s scheduled to talk about union pensions and retiring with dignity.

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens (R) signed right-to-work in February 2017, weeks after taking office.

Greitens campaigned for right-to-work, which says that a person cannot be required to join or refrain from joining a labor organization, as a condition of employment.

During the February 2017 bill-signing ceremony, Greitens told lawmakers that from 1995-2015, the five fastest states for job growth were all right-to-work states. He said that right-to-work would lead to more jobs and higher pay.

State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, sponsored the bill, and predicted at the bill-signing ceremony that union and non-union jobs would increase in Missouri.

Labor unions and their supporters were able to gather enough signatures from Missouri voters to get the issue on the statewide ballot, so right-to-work is essentially on-hold until the ballot measure.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s spokeswoman, Maura Browning, says the ballot issue is a referendum, which is a question referred to the people.

The right-to-work referendum would appear on the November statewide ballot, unless the Missouri Legislature designates a different date.

House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, told Missourinet at the bill-signing ceremony that right-to-work will strengthen labor unions.

State Rep. Doug Beck, a St. Louis County Democrat and pipefitter, said at the time that right-to-work would cost Missouri about $120 million in lost revenue.

Forecasters say Wednesday is expected to be dry in Jefferson City, and traffic is expected to be heavy around the Missouri Capitol.

That’s because the union members will be rallying on the Capitol lawn, with a $28.6 million construction project at the Capitol underway.

Fences and “road closed” signs have gone up around parts of the Capitol, and parking has gotten more difficult.

Buses will be bringing in union members in the St. Louis area.

Curtman: industrial hemp bill would “keep Missouri economic development dollars in Missouri” (AUDIO)

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The Missouri Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee voted 4-1 on Monday afternoon in Jefferson City to approve industrial hemp legislation from veteran State Rep. Paul Curtman, R-Pacific.

State Rep. Paul Curtman speaks on the House floor in April 2017 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Sen. Sandy Crawford, R-Buffalo, cast the lone no vote. The bill now heads to the Senate floor.

Curtman testifies his legislation is an opportunity to introduce “a brand-new economic footprint” to Missouri.

“And doing everything we can to free our farmers, so that way they can grow a product that is already in the market right now,” Curtman says.

His bill would create a pilot program to allow those licensed by the state Department of Agriculture (MDA) to grow, cultivate and market industrial hemp.

“We certainly don’t want Missouri, the Show-Me State, to be the last state in the nation to allow our people to engage in this market and keep Missouri economic development dollars in Missouri,” says Curtman.

The Missouri House approved Curtman’s bill in February by a 141-4 vote.

While the Senate has already approved State Sen. Brian Munzlinger’s, R-Williamstown, industrial hemp legislation, it could be merged with Curtman’s bill.

The main difference between the two is that Curtman’s bill says the Missouri State Highway Patrol “may perform aerial surveillance” to ensure that marijuana plants are not being cultivated near industrial hemp.

That provision was an amendment from State Rep. Don Rone, R-Portageville, that was approved by the House.

The marijuana issue came up several times during Monday’s hearing.

A retired Missouri state trooper warns that law enforcement officers won’t be able to tell the difference between industrial hemp and marijuana.

Ed Moses, who worked for the Patrol for 35 years and served part of that time as an undercover officer, traveled to the Missouri Capitol to testify against Curtman’s industrial hemp bill.

“This would automatically legalize marijuana,” Moses testifies. “We would lose probable cause by law enforcement (officers), because we’d no longer be able to tell the difference,” Moses testifies.

Moses tells senators he believes marijuana supporters are behind the industrial hemp efforts, behind the scenes.

Three others also testified against the bill, including Lincoln University student Cheyenne Savage. She worries it will impact law enforcement efforts.

But Munzlinger and Curtman disagree. They say cross-pollination would destroy both farmers’ and drug dealers’ crops.

Munzlinger, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee, tells Missourinet that Curtman’s legislation is a “drug eradication bill.”

“You know it’s been a long, hard battle just getting to people to understand exactly what industrial hemp is and I think we actually saw some of that today where they’re (opponents) trying to compare it to a drug crop and we’re doing an agricultural crop here,” says Munzlinger.

Under both versions of the bill, applicants would undergo a fingerprint criminal history background check.

Chairman Munzlinger, who represents 14 counties in northeast and north central Missouri, says there are currently 19 states producing industrial hemp.

Munzlinger has described hemp as “one of the oldest crops known to man.“

The Midwest Hemp Association testified for Curtman’s bill on Monday.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Brian Munzlinger, which was recorded on March 26, 2018 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

Missouri House Democrats preview 2018 session’s second half

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Approving prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) legislation is a top priority for Missouri House Democrats, when they return to Jefferson City on Monday.

Missouri House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, addresses the Capitol Press Corps on March 15, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, briefed the Capitol Press Corps before the legislative spring break.

“For the second half (of session), we are hopeful that we can look at a real PDMP program,” Beatty says. “I have filed the fair housing fix so hopefully we will get an opportunity to see that.”

A PDMP is an electronic database that collects data on controlled substance prescriptions within a state.

PDMP legislation from State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, has not been referred to committee yet.

While Republicans control the Missouri House 115-47, Beatty says she’s excited about the candidates Democrats have recruited for the House November elections.

State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, is calling on House Republicans to focus on a solution for seniors and the disabled.

Lavender says the GOP promised in September that there would be a solution in three weeks for seniors and those with disabilities, to help them stay in their homes.

State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, speaks to Capitol reporters on March 15, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“The only amendments (in the Missouri House Budget Committee) that came up were Democrat amendments to attempt to restore funding for those lines, and they were all voted down,” says Lavender.

Democrats are also calling on Republicans to restore provider rate cuts.

Beatty, Lavender and other Democrats briefed Capitol reporters.

Missouri House Republicans held a separate news conference, before the spring break.

House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, says the mission of House Republicans is to make Missouri one of the most competitive economic environments in the nation.

The House has approved 158 bills, which Richardson notes is a record.

Richardson says the House will debate Pro Tem Elijah Haahr’s tax reform legislation when they return to the Capitol.

Haahr, R-Springfield, has a bill that would reduce Missouri’s highest personal income tax rate from 5.9 to five percent. It would also reduce Missouri’s corporate income tax from 6.25 to five percent.

Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City on Monday afternoon.

McCaskill says metal tariffs will hurt Missouri’s manufacturing and agriculture industries

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President Trump in Springfield

President Trump’s order begins today that places taxes on steel and aluminum shipped into the U.S. from other countries. During a hearing this week with Trump’s trade chief, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, says the taxes are going to harm many Missouri businesses, including the manufacturing and agriculture sectors.

“Some of this issue is about businesses that are relying on specialized steel imports. It’s not a matter of price, it’s a matter of availability. I’ve got a small company in Joplin that relies on Japanese specialized steel to make the bearings—and it’s not available in the United States,” says McCaskill. “It is not one of these things that they can actually turn to a more expensive. They’re not bringing this in because they’re getting it cheaper than they can get it in the United States. They’re bringing it in because they can’t get it.”

Democrats say the taxes will create a trade war with other countries, increase prices of many goods and cost some manufacturing workers their jobs.

The president says America’s reliance on imported metals jeopardizes U.S. national security. He goes on to say that many countries are calling to negotiate better trade deals because they don’t want to pay the steel and aluminum tariffs.

Under Trump’s order, aluminum shipments coming to the U.S. from other countries will be taxed 15% and steel imports will get slapped with a 25% tax.

Missouri House to debate Haahr tax bill after legislative spring break

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Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, has announced that his major tax reform legislation will be discussed on the House floor when lawmakers return to Jefferson City from spring break.

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr testifies before the Ways and Means Committee on March 5, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Haahr’s bill would reduce Missouri’s highest personal income tax rate from 5.9 to five percent. It also reduces Missouri’s corporate income tax from 6.25 to five percent.

“This bill offers no special giveaways but instead gives Missouri businesses a tax cut and incentivizes them to hire more Missouri workers to meet the workforce needs of our future,” Haahr said this month.

Haahr’s 429-page bill would also put Missouri in line with some other states by indexing vehicle user fees to the cost of inflation.

The Springfield Republican notes the state’s current vehicle license and registration fees were put in statute in 1984, and haven’t changed in more than 30 years.

Haahr says that change would generate about $174 million annually for the state’s road fund, along with about $58 million annually for counties.

The Missouri House Ways and Means Committee approved Haahr’s bill on Monday on a 6-3 vote, with Republicans for and Democrats against.

The committee also voted along party lines Monday to reject an amendment from State Rep. Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, to preserve the “circuit breaker” for seniors who rent.

Ellington says the average senior citizen property tax credit for the circuit breaker is $535, and that “these are folks who have worked their entire lives.”

Pro Tem Haahr testifies the circuit breaker was established to help people pay their property taxes, adding that renters don’t pay property taxes.

The Missouri House and Senate are both on spring break. Lawmakers return to the Statehouse on March 26.

Missouri House leaders in both parties reflect on 2018 session’s first half

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Top GOP and Democratic leaders in the Missouri House have different perspectives on the first half of the 2018 legislative session.

Missouri lawmakers have left Jefferson City for their spring break, and don’t return to the Statehouse until March 26.

Missouri House Speaker Todd Richardson (at podium) addresses Capitol reporters on March 15, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, tells the Capitol Press Corps the mission of House Republicans is to make Missouri one of the most competitive economic environments in the nation.

“Since last March we’ve outpaced the nation in job growth,” Richardson says. “Missouri’s unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in 17 years and we have manufacturing jobs across the state that we didn’t have a year ago.”

Richardson says that in the last two weeks, Missouri companies have announced 2,800 new jobs.

Two of those announcements were covered extensively by Missourinet.

Seattle-based Amazon announced last week that they’ll open their first Missouri fulfillment center in fast-growing St. Peters, creating more than 1,500 new jobs with benefits.

Governor Eric Greitens (R) announced last Friday in Marston that about 450 new jobs paying an average salary of $64,000 will be coming to a new aluminum smelter in southeast Missouri’s impoverished New Madrid County.

Republicans control the Missouri House 115-47.

Richardson says he’s proud of the work his chamber has done during the first half of the session.

“While the House has passed 158 pieces of legislation this year at the midway point which is, I believe, a record,” says Richardson. “And I think we’ve passed substantive, meaningful legislation in nearly every major policy area that we set out to at the beginning of session.”

Richardson says the House will debate Pro Tem Elijah Haahr’s tax reform legislation when they return to Jefferson City.

Haahr’s bill would reduce Missouri’s highest personal income tax rate from 5.9 to five percent. It also reduces Missouri’s corporate income tax from 6.25 to five percent.

Haahr’s 429-page bill would also put Missouri in line with some other states by indexing vehicle user fees to the cost of inflation.

The Springfield Republican notes the state’s current vehicle license and registration fees were put in statute in 1984, and haven’t changed in more than 30 years.

Richardson also praises both GOP and Democratic members of the House Budget Committee for passing a budget he says is balanced, funds the foundation formula and restores what he describes as “deep cuts” to higher education.

House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty, D-Kansas City, and other top Democrats also addressed Capitol reporters on Thursday afternoon, at a separate press conference.

State Rep. Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) speaks to the Capitol Press Corps on March 15, 2018 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, is calling on the GOP-controlled House to restore cuts to in-home nursing services for those with disabilities and low-income seniors.

“I am hoping that the majority party is not trying to forget that that was such a serious conversation and that we still have folks suffering every single day,” Quade says.

Quade wants to see provider rate cuts restored as well.

State Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood, tells reporters Republicans promised in September that in three weeks there would be a solution for seniors and people who live with disabilities to help them stay in their homes.

She says the GOP has defeated Democratic attempts to address the issue.

Leader Beatty says House Democrats will also focus on passing prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) legislation in the session’s second half.

Beatty also says the governor’s indictment has been a “distraction” to lawmakers this session.

“You can’t hardly go a day without some kind of (news) article, I met with the Consulate General of Canada this week and that was a topic of conversation, you know, what’s going on with our governor,” says Beatty.

A St. Louis City grand jury has indicted Governor Greitens on one felony count of invasion of privacy.

Greitens’ lawyer, former U.S. Attorney Ed Dowd, has filed a motion to dismiss.

A Missouri House committee is investigating the governor’s indictment.

Missouri House committee approves Haahr tax bill; Democrats criticize senior tax credit provision

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The Missouri House Ways and Means Committee voted Monday in Jefferson City to approve major tax reform legislation, which includes funding for Missouri’s deteriorating roads and bridges.

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr testifies before the Ways and Means Committee on March 5, 2018 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr’s bill was approved by the Ways and Means Committee 6-3 in a party line vote on Monday, with Republicans for and Democrats against.

Haahr, R-Springfield, testifies his bill would put Missouri in line with some other states by indexing vehicle user fees to the cost of inflation.

“There was some concern about indexing user fees every three years after the initial time, basically binding the hands of future (Missouri) legislators, so we removed the every three years component, we just do it the one time,” Haahr testifies.

Haahr says that change will generate about $174 million annually for the state’s road fund, along with $58 million annually for counties.

Haahr testified in-detail about the transportation provision last week, noting that Missouri’s vehicle license and registration fees were put in statute in 1984 and haven’t changed in more than 30 years.

Haahr says the 429-page bill will transform Missouri’s tax system to the most competitive in the nation. The bill cuts Missouri’s personal and corporate income tax rates.

He notes several business groups and organizations testified for the bill at last week’s hearing.

“Missouri Chamber of Commerce, South Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce, a variety of construction and contract companies that would like to see us build more infrastructure in the state,” says Haahr.

The Missouri Limestone Producers Association also testified for the bill, saying its transportation provision is a start for Missouri.

The Haahr legislation would reduce Missouri’s highest personal income tax rate from 5.9 to five percent. It also would reduce Missouri’s corporate income tax from 6.25 to five percent.

The 6-3 committee vote was along party lines, with State Reps. Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, Richard Brown, D-Kansas City and Jay Mosley, D-Florissant, voting no.

Ellington, the committee’s ranking Democrat, voted against the bill after his amendment to protect the senior citizen property tax credit for renters was defeated on a party-line vote.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t protect our most vulnerable citizens when we’re balancing our budget off of their backs,” Ellington says.

Ellington tells Missourinet he would have voted to send Haahr’s bill to the House floor, had his amendment to preserve the “circuit breaker” for seniors who rent passed.

“We’re (the House) balancing our budget going off of a tax credit that typically is expended at about $535,” says Ellington. “So we’re not talking about individuals using a lot of money and we’re talking about older folks. These are folks that have worked their entire lives and if they were financially stable they wouldn’t be renting.”

Missouri’s circuit breaker is a senior citizen property tax credit, and Ellington says there are more renters who use the circuit breaker than owners.

Pro Tem Haahr testifies the circuit breaker was established to help people pay their property taxes, adding that renters don’t pay property taxes.

Haahr told Representatives Ellington and Brown last week that the bill contains $40 million for the Missouri Senior Services Protection Fund, which Haahr says would assist those residents.

House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, told the Capitol Press Corps on Thursday that the House is focused on trying to create the most competitive economic environment for Missouri.