Both Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon and Republican Speaker of the House Ron Richard, of Joplin, promised during the January inauguration and swearing-in ceremonies that jobs would be their No. 1 priority.
It appears four months and several compromises later, that economic-development legislation has passed and the top priority of the session has been fulfilled.
Ten minutes before Friday’s legislative session ended, Missouri lawmakers sent Gov. Jay Nixon a compromise bill that provides incentives to certain businesses that add new jobs paying at least average wages and providing health benefits.
The legislation also raised the tax credits available for development projects located in areas with significant poverty rates or low to medium incomes.
The legislation, according to The Associated Press, will exempt thousands of businesses from paying Missouri’s corporate franchise tax, and it would increase eligibility for state job-training incentives.
Lawmakers, seeking to offer those without jobs some relief, passed a bill that will extend unemployment benefits.
The bill, which now must be signed by the governor, should go some distance in creating more jobs.
Now with the session over, we urge legislators to continue to work to help win back lost jobs and find solutions to creating new ones.
For some, victory is still many, many paychecks away.
Whiz kid
Missouri Southern State University’s youngest graduate on Friday told the Globe he doesn’t think that much about his accomplishments.
But 19-year-old Aaron McGinn deserves the recognition he’s earned.
When high school failed to offer him enough of a challenge, he moved to Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville and joined the Missouri Academy of Science, Math and Computing. That stint earned him college credits, which helped him enter college early.
McGinn plans to spend his summer studying in France and Spain and then will attend graduate school at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.
Good luck, Aaron. We can’t wait to see what you accomplish next.
Columns
May 16, 2009
In Our View: Jobs for Missouri
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Federal stimulus money allows Cherokee County to buy foreclosed houses
COLUMBUS, Kan. — A grant through the federal stimulus program will allow the Cherokee County Commission to buy three foreclosed houses from a county bank.
Nancy Lamb, deputy emergency management director for the county, provided information Monday about that grant and other grants on which she has been working. - Guest column, Allen Shirley: Copy a winning example Last October, I published a column in The Joplin Globe documenting three failed attempts involving the states of Maine, Massachusetts and Tennessee and their efforts to implement “Obamacare” in their states.
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Anson burlingame, guest columnist: Living within our means
“Mainly, we are going to have to live within our means and be very careful.”
That is the most resounding sound bite I have heard from a politician in a long time. If only that sentiment can grow and resonate, politically, to turn the tide of incessant and extraordinarily dangerous growth beyond our means in government. - Jim Stone, guest columnist: Paranoia shouldn’t impede freedom The afternoon of Dec. 30 brought news that eight American CIA agents and four Canadian soldiers at Forward Operating Base Chapman in Afghanistan had been killed by a suicide bomber.
- Dan Ray, guest columnist: Bills can still be terminated We still have an opportunity to terminate the health care bills that have been passed in the Senate and the House.
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Dave Woods: Global warming fires up debate
on Adams doesn’t believe in global warming.
I have to say, when it’s 3 degrees below zero outside in Joplin and we’re headed for our third week without a thaw, global warming theory is a tough concept to wrap my head around. -
Jack Kaminsky, guest columnist: Remembering a ‘classic’
Last week Editor Carol Stark asked me to write something about my dad and the Kaminsky Classic, the annual Joplin High School basketball tournament which ended on Saturday.
Even as I started writing, I began crying, and have had tears in my eyes all day. - Carol Stark: We all need someone’s hand to hold I was always a nervous little kid and while others my age went through life without a care, I held back, imagining that the worst was about to happen.
- Dave Woods: Harsh note sounds over parade trip By the time you read this column, the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., will only be a memory.
- Bob Steere, guest columnist: Still looking for some answers Don Ray’s frustration in obtaining answers from his leaders in Congress (Globe, Dec. 22) is certainly shared by this letter sender.
- More Columns Headlines
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Federal stimulus money allows Cherokee County to buy foreclosed houses
COLUMBUS, Kan. — A grant through the federal stimulus program will allow the Cherokee County Commission to buy three foreclosed houses from a county bank.
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