If Missouri's going to improve its economy, lawmakers need to support the "Made In Missouri" jobs package, Gov. Jay Nixon said Wednesday morning.
And, like the Missouri AFL-CIO, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other business groups said a day earlier, Nixon said it's best for the General Assembly to approve all parts of the package rather than stripping out one part or another.
Key components of the compromise proposal negotiated by legislative leaders this summer include:
• The "Aerotropolis" plan at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport that, Nixon said, improves Missouri's role in overseas trade.
• Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act, or MOSIRA, intended to improve the state's standing in technology competition.
• "Compete Missouri" program improving jobs training efforts.
• Construction and installation of "data centers" to store computerized information.
"I think the package here makes sense," Nixon told reporters gathered in his Capitol office. "We feel that the priority is pretty clear - let's create some jobs, keep the fiscal discipline and work together to move the economy forward."
Missouri's Constitution lets the governor define what is talked about during the special session. Nixon's call also includes proposals to move the presidential preference primary to March to comply with the national Democratic and Republican parties' rules; ending more than 150 years of state control of the St. Louis Police department; and eliminating the controversial "social media" restrictions for public school district employees from a new sexual predator law.
Most of the conversation with reporters Wednesday focused on the Aerotropolis proposal, which for several years has been called the "China Hub" because of that nation's interest in having one U.S. location for its aerial shipping needs.