Springfield chamber sets 2013 legislative priorities

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is encouraging lawmakers in Jefferson City to do what it takes to advance job growth in the area through its 2013 legislative priorities. This year’s legislative session begins Jan. 9.

Sandy Howard, vice president of public affairs, said the local chamber's agenda calls for action in three areas: improving the business climate; creating jobs and growing the economy; and strengthening education and the workforce in the area.

Fixing the state’s failing Second Injury Fund - a disability support system utilized by Missouri workers and employers - is an example of the work legislators need to do in order to improve the local business climate, Howard said.

She said ensuring effective tax credit programs remain in place, as well as adding programs that promote economic development, are important to job growth in 2013.

“With tax credit reform, we encourage prompt action to review tax credit programs and make sure state resources are being used effectively. That has been a road block for several years, and we hope steps will be taken this year to eliminate that road block and allow for more proactive economic development legislation,” Howard said.

For example, Howard said the chamber supports implementing and funding the Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act, which was passed in 2011, but was ruled unconstitutional because the Aerotropolis bill it was attached to failed to pass in special session. In addition, she said establishing an “angel” tax credit could help foster entrepreneurship and innovation. An angel tax credit would be a state income tax credit on investments in high-tech startup companies, she said.

“We visited Fort Collins [Colo.] on our community leadership visit in late 2012, and one of our big takeaways was its atmosphere of promoting entrepreneurial investment and startup ventures,” Howard said. “This is an example of things other states are doing to encourage investment.”

On Jan. 4, state Sen. Bob Dixon, R-Springfield, hosted a preview of the upcoming legislative session at the Springfield chamber offices for roughly 100 business and community leaders. He said improvements to infrastructure and education are among the majority party’s key priorities this year. He said the state should soon be paying off bonds issued during the Christopher “Kit” Bond administration, and reissuing those bonds could free up funds to address needs in both areas.   

Howard said the chamber thinks that could be a wise move.

“We think the prudent use of bonding would be helpful in addressing some of the state’s urgent capital improvement needs – specifically, infrastructure improvements both in transportation and higher education,” Howard said.

She said higher education funding in Missouri is poor compared to other states, and funding needs to turn around to improve the quality of the state’s workforce and its ability to attract out-of-state employers. According to the Missouri Department of Higher Education, Missouri ranked No. 44 nationwide in per capita appropriation for higher education spending in fiscal 2012.

“That does not bode well for our future prosperity,” Howard said.

She added funding for Missouri State University and Ozarks Technical Community College should be increased overall, and the chamber is also advocating for the state to fund an occupational therapy program at MSU to address local health care demand.