Sole GOP aspirant for attorney general makes stop in Joplin
FROM THE JOPLIN GLOBE 9/15/07
By Joe Hadsall
Challengers have thinned out for state Sen. Michael Gibbons, R-Kirkwood, who is bidding to be the next Missouri attorney general, and local Republicans said Monday they are pleased by the development.
Bill-signing at MSSU
FROM THE JOPLIN GLOBE 7/03/07
State Rep. Ron Richard huddles with Gov. Matt Blunt during a bill-signing ceremony at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.
Unanimous, Bipartisan Support Shown for HB 327
FEBRUARY 5, 2007
Jefferson City – The House Special Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development today passed a House Committee Substitute for House Bill 327. The bill combines features of House Bill 328 with the original provisions of HB 327. Together, they expand Missouri’s ability to attract businesses and family-supporting jobs. Bill sponsor and committee chair, Representative Ron Richard, R-Joplin, expressed his considerable pleasure in the bipartisan work of the committing in putting together changes to the Quality Jobs Act, a measure passed in 2005.
“When we did [the Quality Jobs Act in 2005], the promise on the House floor I made was that this was a test. We were going to see how well it works,” said Rep. Richard. “We’re back to tell you the test works.”
In 2005, the legislature passed the Quality Jobs Act which authorized qualifying businesses to retain the state withholding tax and to qualify for tax credits. To qualify, a business must create a certain number of jobs where the average wage must equal or exceed the county average wage, and the business must also offer health insurance, paying at least 50% of the premium.
Testimony offered by directors of economic development before the committee today was consistent: the state tax incentives offer a considerable advantage to Missouri communities competing for businesses looking to relocate. That was true whether the director came from rural or urban Missouri.
“We kept every community in mind when we originally put together Quality Jobs,” said Rep. Fred Kratky, D-St. Louis, the committee’s ranking minority member. “We wanted to be fair for small communities as well as large.”
Those participating in the hearing also recommended the caps established for the original Quality Jobs Program and the Enhanced Enterprise Zone program, another economic development program, be lifted completely. Currently, the tax credits offered under the Quality Jobs Act typically reach the cap before the year ends, which means some proposed projects can’t take advantage of them. This can result in these projects opting to move to another state, where the incentives are guaranteed.
HB 327 and HB 328 originally doubled the tax credit caps. Jeff Kaczmarek, CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, let the committee know the danger in letting the tax credits run out.
Consultants throughout the nation “love the Missouri Quality Jobs program but can’t for the life of them understand why there is a cap on the program,” said Kaczmarek. “The problem is uncertainty and companies do not want uncertainty. They want a guarantee that if we lay out a series of incentives that those are going to be delivered.”
The committee substitute passed today includes the recommendation to eliminate the caps. Other amendments the committee added will extend for ten years a tax credit program supporting community college job-training programs and will add a provision excluding the earnings tax in the calculations related to the Quality Jobs Program in Kansas City and St. Louis.
Richard Named Chair of House Committee
1/11/07 - House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, today named Representative Ron Richard, R-Joplin, to chair the House Committee on Job Creation and Economic Development.
“Representative Richard is dedicated to continuing the policies of the Republican Legislature to make Missouri a good place to start a business and to work,” said Speaker Jetton.
The House Job Creation & Economic Development Committee considers and reports upon bills and matters referred to it relating to commerce, industrial growth, expansion, and development and the creation and retention of jobs. As chair of the committee, Rep. Richard will preside over committee hearings and be responsible for all legislation referred to the committee.
Blunt Promotes Trade with Japanese Business Leaders:
NEW YORK - 11/15/06 - Stressing the importance of exports, Gov. Matt Blunt encouraged Japanese business leaders to continue to invest in Missouri.
“Missouri workers are the most productive employees in the world,” Blunt said. “Meeting with international business and trade leaders provides a chance to open more markets for Missouri-made products, generate more opportunities for Missouri workers and showcase the countless benefits of doing business in and with our state.”
Blunt was joined on the trip by Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Greg Steinhoff, Missouri Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan, State Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, St. Louis RCGA Senior Vice President Steve Johnson and Joplin Chamber of Commerce President Rob O’Brian. Richard is chairman of the House Economic Development Committee.
Ethanol Signed into Law in Joplin
Gov. Blunt stops at the 1,500-acre farm of Mark Larson in rural Webb City
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt toured several farms throughout Missouri on July 5 to introduce the signing of House Bill 1270. The bill approves legislation to implement a mandatory 10 percent ethanol blend into Missouri by January 2008 and is also part of the Missouri Renewable Fuel Standard Act. While no increase at the pumps is expected with the passing of this legislation, there have been measures included that mandate a suspension of ethanol blends should the cost exceed the cost of regular unleaded fuel. Ethanol is a motor fuel derived from agricultural products, most often corn. It is a fuel that is safer and more environmentally friendly and will help to promote area farmers and the agricultural industry while lessening the dependency on foreign countries for fuel. Missouri is the fourth state in the nation to pass this legislation.
(Photo/story credit)
Teresa Burks- Staff Writer
Joplin Business Journal, Joplin, Missouri
Ron Richard with Rep. Ellen Brandon, Vice Chair of Ron's Economic Development Committee.
Ron Richard and Gov. Matt Blunt congratulate Joplin Realtor Doris Carlin on her appointment to the Missouri Real Estate Commission.