Nixon says chances diminishing for special session, negotiations ongoing
Gov. Jay Nixon said he would continue to communicate with Republican legislative leaders on the possibility of a special session, even though he expressed personal doubts that lawmakers could come to an agreement on a $220 million tax-credit reform package.
Since the end of the regular legislative session in May, there have been ongoing discussions about reconvening the general assembly to pass the tax-credit legislation that failed in the final hours of the session when House and the Senate leaders couldn’t come to an agreement.
Last week, Nixon sent a formal invitation to leaders in both chambers to meet with his staff in order to finalize an agreement on the bill and to discuss other pieces of legislation that might be brought up if the general assembly reconvenes. The governor has said that he would only call the general assembly back into session if there was a likelihood that significant legislation could be passed in a brief time period, which would require a clear consensus beforehand.
“If we can get that all together – and we’ve been in good communication with all these folks during the process, then there would be a chance to bring folks together,” Nixon said at a press conference this week. “As it is right now — there has been good progress made – (but) my sense is we’re not going to get to the finish line.”
Speaker of the House Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, said in a statement last week that a meeting with the governor’s staff would be premature and said legislative leaders would request a special session once an agreement was reached between the two chambers.
The tax-credit reform bill is based on the findings of the bipartisan Missouri Tax Credit Review Commission appointed by the governor last year. In November, the commission issued a report that called for eliminating, combing or phasing out 28 different tax credit programs to save the state an estimated $220 million.
Related posts:
- Special session could be on the horizon for Missouri legislature
- Nixon discusses likelihood of a 2011 special session
- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on likelihood of a 2011 special session
- Special Session Sparsely Attended
- Governor won’t call for special session without consensus first
Posted by Tim Sampson on July 13, 2011. Filed under Featured.
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