JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (WGEM) - Missouri lawmakers just received more marching orders from the governor.
Lawmakers will be returning to Jefferson City next week to work on storm relief, a stadium deal and an economic development package. But those on the other side of the aisle question Republicans' ability to lead, saying the need for a special session shows their inability to meet goals.
For storm relief, Gov. Mike Kehoe is asking lawmakers to craft an income tax deduction for those hit by storms this spring. It would be no greater than $5,000 per household, a total economic impact of $25 million for the state. Nearly every area of the state has been hit by storms. Kehoe requested federal disaster relief storms in March, April and May, there are still several requests pending.
Kehoe's stadium plan has not changed since the Missouri House approved it earlier this month, but he added an extension of amateur sports tax credits to sweeten the deal for lawmakers in cities without pro teams.
Kehoe's plan only benefits NFL and MLB teams, allowing them to make upgrades to existing stadiums or construct new stadiums. The plan allows teams to get a bond up to their current state tax revenue; that comes out to nearly $29 million for Chiefs and $26 million for the Royals. It also allows a 10% tax credit up to $50 million, and only up to half of the project.
"They have some significant options on the table, and I believe that 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," Kehoe said.
There is a clawback trigger put in to protect Missouri. If a team relocates its headquarters or training facility to another state, the money will have to be returned.
The last part of Kehoe's plan for a special session is to have lawmakers take another look at some capital projects that didn't make it into the budget.
The house budget chairman, Rep. Dirk Deaton, decided last minute not to allow a vote on House Bill 19. The bill contained funding for projects like roads, bridges, and $50 million for a new nuclear research reactor at the University of Missouri, a project that's already underway after the university signed a contract for design and construction in April.
Aside from the research reactor, none of the general revenue projects in that bill are on the table for special session, but about $200 million in other projects will be up for discussion. Kehoe's proposal for MU's research reactor was cut in half to $25 million. He said he's saving money for future years.
St. Louis Democratic Rep. Bridget Walsh Moore said this could be too little too late.
"We're in summer school because they blew up, they chose not to do the group project," Walsh Moore said. "Is that the sugar to make the medicine go down? I mean, it's something, but it's lipstick on a pig at this point."