Governor calls special session of General Assembly

Lawmakers will meet because Gov. Matt Blunt requested the special session to “address issues on which there is broad consensus,” according to a news release from the Blunt’s office.

Blunt is seeking swift approval of an economic development package that includes an expansion of the Quality Jobs Act, which would increase in capacity to $40 million from $12 million; an increase in the Enhanced Enterprise Zone capacity to $14 million from $7 million; creation of a state match for the federal New Markets tax credit; and passage of the Safe and Sound Bridge Improvement Program, which would repair or replace more than 800 Missouri bridges.

“I want to thank the leaders of the General Assembly for their great spirit of cooperation that I believe will ultimately lead to the passage of these important priorities for Missouri’s transportation infrastructure and Missouri jobs,” Blunt said in the release.