The leader of Missouri’s Senate expressed “little hope” and the House speaker gave no better than a 60 percent chance that the legislature could pass a package of its top priority bills before adjourning at 6 p.m. Friday.
The central issue of the legislature’s final day is a Senate-passed plan to curb tax credits to businesses, developers and social programs that cost the state about $500 million per year.
For the last few years, the House has resisted efforts to impose restrictions on tax credits.
The tax credit bill includes a plan for awarding other tax breaks to businesses for development of an air cargo transport hub in St. Louis.
In addition, the Senate leadership has vowed that without agreement on tax credit reductions, it would not allow a vote on a measure that would grant St. Louis city control over its police department for the first time since the Civil War.
The “local control” measure has strong support from the House speaker.
Late Thursday night after the Senate adjourned, Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer said he held out “little hope” the legislature would pass the tax credit restrictions and break the deadlock.
Earlier in the day, House Speaker Steve Tilley expressed a bit more optimism, giving the chances of approval at five to six on a 10-point scale.
– Missouri Digital News
