You think the business lobby is feeling a little like Jesus Christ?

For Immediate Release:

Big Business feels the Republican slight
JEFFERSON CITY – Business groups around Missouri are not feeling the love from the Republican-controlled Legislature this year after their primary pro-business legislation withered on the vine in the final days of the 2006 session. A motion to adopt the Conference Committee Report for SB 696 was offered three times on May 11-12 – the last two days of the session -- and three times that motion was withdrawn.

Contact: Sen. Maida Coleman (573) 751-2606

For Immediate Release:

Big Business feels the Republican slight
JEFFERSON CITY – Business groups around Missouri are not feeling the love from the Republican-controlled Legislature this year after their primary pro-business legislation withered on the vine in the final days of the 2006 session. A motion to adopt the Conference Committee Report for SB 696 was offered three times on May 11-12 – the last two days of the session -- and three times that motion was withdrawn.

You think the business lobby is feeling a little like Jesus Christ when he was denied three times by the apostle Peter immediately preceding Christ’s imprisonment and ultimate crucifixion? That’s probably a little strong and certainly too biblically dramatic, but there are rumors that business and industrial types are more than a little miffed at the Senate Republicans for giving up a little too easily.

After all, when the political bag contains goodies like tax credits for contributors to projects which include community development, education and physical revitalization, big-money suits expect a little blood on the floor before surrender. They got nary a drop of sweat, and it sounds as if more than a few tears are being shed as a result. Also contained in this whale of a bill were increases in the tax increment financing disbursement, downtown economic stimuli treats, increases in the Missouri Rural Economic Stimulus Act funding, removal of limits on the Development Finance Board, increases in small business tax credits, and several other increases and exemptions which gave Big Business visions of sugarplums. And it all vanished with scarcely a GOP whimper.

Corporate Missouri must be wondering why their wish list did not receive the same ruthlessly generous Republican support that the voter photo ID legislation did. I mean on that bill, the GOP debated, threatened, made good on a threat to include elimination of straight-party voting after promising it would not go that route and finally simply shut off debate with a parliamentary move usually reserved for the Missouri House. Big Business has to wonder what more they need to do to get the same treatment as the photo ID people got for their issue.

But who were the photo ID people? Certainly the election authorities around the state were not supportive, especially not the county clerks. It is true that the newly appointed St. Louis County Election Authority loved it, but since he has not presided over a major election yet, his opinion on election issues is uninformed and generally useless.

Senior citizen groups did not like the bill, and neither did the disabled, minorities or the financially disadvantaged. Really, it seems that the only major supporter of the legislation is the primary beneficiary – Senator Jim Talent, who needs all the help he can get in stifling Claire McCaskill supporters on their way to the polls in November.

So while Corporate Missouri wonders why every year can’t be like 2005, when their GOP minions handed them the keys to the banks holding taxpayers’ dollars, they must also be wondering how much more money they need to throw in the kitty to get legislative Republicans to fall on their swords for them, like the Senate GOP did for Jim Talent.

More interestingly, what does Jim Talent owe the GOP senators up for election or re-election? Can you hear the phones of Tom DeLay and Jack Abramof ringing off their respective hooks?

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