January 19, 2024

Hearings sought on Tax Credit Bills

We are working with our legislative sponsors to request hearings on HB 2089, sponsored by Rep. Michael O’Donnell (R-St. Louis), and SB 1041 and SB 1179, sponsored by Sen. Steven Roberts (D-St. Louis) and Sen. Andrew Koenig (R-Manchester), respectively, that would amend the Neighborhood Assistance Program and Youth Opportunity Program tax credits to make them competitive with other tax credit programs used for fundraising at CCSTL.  The bills would increase the state tax credits available under these programs from 50% to 70%. 

Senate Business Halted by Republican Divide 

Yesterday, decorum in the Missouri Senate was broken once again when a group of Republican Senators calling themselves the Freedom Caucus broke ranks with their colleagues, demanding quick action on initiative petition reform and holding the floor for 8 hours, delaying adjournment for the week.  Unfinished business included confirmation of appointees to Governor Parson’s cabinet, among other appointments.  The acrimony in the Senate between more conservative Republicans and the others in their party threatens to disrupt Senate business going forward, with no clear path forward emerging at the close of business Thursday evening.

Keep the Missouri legislature in your prayers.  We are seeing a disturbing trend in our politics, with bitterness and division ruling the day rather than an effort to advance the common good, which Pope Francis called “the chief aim of politics.”

Deacon Tyler