On Monday, Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer discussed the “complicated” confirmation process for Jason Hall. Hall - the former executive director of the Missouri Technology Corporation - was tapped to be the next director of the Department of Economic Development.
Finally, here’s a video of Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, answering a question about whether this session will focus more on incremental changes than bigger initiatives.
The video also features a question about whether “right to work” will have floor time in the Missouri Senate this year.
One of the biggest issue the legislature will face this year is how to deal with blowback from the Turner v. Clayton decision. That Supreme Court ruling stated that students in unaccredited schools could transfer to adjoining districts.
The decision is significant, as it could prompt thousands of students on both sides of state to move into suburban schools. In the above video, legislative leaders respond to questions about lawmakers will do in response to the situation.
The next video features an array of reaction to the idea of raising the state’s cigarette taxes or collecting sales taxes for items sold over the Internet. Featured in this video are Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, Senate Minority Leader Victor Callahan and House Speaker Steve Tilley.
Just a couple of days after he threatened to end the session, Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, decided to keep it alive. But barely.
Click on the above video to see Mayer’s explanation on why he didn’t adjourn permanently.
Finally, here’s a compilation video I made on Tuesday of various reactions to changes made in wide-ranging economic development legislation. Those changes included taking out a $300 million portion of a plan aimed at luring a “China Hub” to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
Some lawmakers say other elements of the bill - such a program called Compete Missouri - can accomplish that goal. Others - like House Speaker Steve Tilley, R-Perryville - don’t approve of the idea because it provides too much power to the Department of Economic Development.
The next video features comments from House Speaker Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, and Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, on the economic development bill
And here’s is video of Gov. Jay Nixon responding to whether he felt snubbed when GOP legislative leaders seemed to decline his invitation to meet on economic development legislation.
Nixon may call a special session for the legislature to debate a economic development bill that includes incentives to create a “China hub” at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
Earlier today, Gov. Jay Nixon’s office issued a statement about inviting legislative leader to discuss economic development legislation.
Well, apparently the legislature’s top two leaders aren’t that enthusiastic. In a statement released Thursday night, House Speaker Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, and Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, say that such a meeting may be premature.
“Since the end of the legislative session in May, House and Senate leaders have continued negotiations in an effort to reach an agreement on a comprehensive economic development package. We remain committed to reaching a compromise that will help bring much-needed jobs to our state and continue to ensure our state’s fiscal stability,” Tilley said in a statement. “Immediately following session, the Governor stated he would not consider a special session until the House and Senate reached a compromise. We certainly appreciate the Governor’s invitation to meet with his staff, however until we have a final agreement between the House and Senate on possible jobs legislation, both Senator Mayer and myself agree this meeting is premature.”
Mayer said in a statement that the two chambers “will continue working closely together and look forward to announcing an agreement on these important job creation measures in the near future.”
“We are committed to work with the governor to determine the best course of action moving forward,” Mayer said. “First, we reach a final agreement and consult with legislative members of both parties, then both Speaker Tilley and I will ask for a meeting with the Governor to share with him our bi-partisan jobs bill and ask Governor Nixon to call us into Special Session or to support the legislature in calling themselves in to Special Session.”
Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer formed interim committees looking at ways for the state to heal from a slew of disasters.
Mayer, R-Dexter, created the Senate Interim Committee on Natural Disaster Recovery to examine ways “to best assist Missouri residents and local governments as they recover and rebuild.”
“Thousands of Missouri families have been in harm’s way this year because of natural disasters, and for many more, their way of living has been threatened,” Mayer said in a statement. “As lawmakers, it is our job to make sure government is helpful, rather than a burden, in the rebuilding process. That is why I created this interim committee to look at all aspects of recovery and the role government should play.”
Sen. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, was named chairman of the committee. Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, will serve as vice chairman.
Additionally, three subcommittees will take a look at emergency response, insurance response and fiscal response. Here are the senators named to the particular subcommittees:
Emergency Response – Sen. Mike Kehoe (chairman), R-Jefferson City; Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit; Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington; Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles; Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-University City; and Sen. Ryan McKenna, D-Crystal City.
Fiscal Response – Sen. Kurt Schaeffer (chairman), R-Columbia; Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown; Sen. Dan Brown, R-Rolla; Sen. Jim Lembke, R-St. Louis; Sen. Tim Green, D-Spanish Lake; and Sen. Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City.
Insurance Response – Sen. Mike Parson (chairman), R-Bolivar; Sen. Scott T. Rupp, R-Wentzville; Sen. Jay Wasson, R-Nixa; Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield; Senate Minority Leader Victor Callahan, D-Independence; and Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Kansas City.
Here’s video of Senate Majority Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, and Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, answering questions about redistricting. Both the House and the Senate are at a stalemate over the process.
