It always fun to chat with Warren and Johnny Marsh. Today’s topic was Special Session.
KWOS Interview on Special Session – Sept. 7, 2011
A quick recap:
First, still hopeful on ESP, though obviously time is running short. The special interest opponents to Sen. Kehoe’s bill (which, oh by the way, is the only real jobs bill we talked about this session) have “agreed” to language. The proponents have acceded to all of their demands. And as soon as agreement is reached on language, we’re told that they can’t actively support the bill because it doesn’t have the “consensus” necessary for special session. By consensus, they mean not every special interest group in Missouri would support the changes. Sorry, but we don’t need “consensus” from special interests to move forward with a bill. This is just another excuse – and another example of moving the goal posts on proponents of affordable, clean, and secure energy for Missouri’s future. Going forward, I’m not sure if I’ll even meet with the special interest opponents anymore.
Second, the “Made in Missouri” jobs bill is like a sandwich with old crusty, moldy bread and a great chunk of meat that has some questionable spots. The “great chunk of meat” that I support includes MoSIRA, an effort to help commercialize Missouri biotechnology companies; data centers (incentivizing the building of massive data-storage centers, a growing industry vital to future economic growth), Compete Missouri (worker training), and amateur sporting events tax credits to help lure big-ticket events like the Final Four to Missouri. The crusty, moldy bread are the tax credit “reforms.” And the questionable meat is the beast known as Aerotropolis.
So, will I vote yes? Most likely. It depends on what the bill looks like after the Senate gets done with it. But as I told Warren and John, you can’t give those mold spores too much time or air to grow. Pretty soon it will spoil the whole sandwich.