2011 Business Measures

Missouri Republican News
2011 Legislation - Business Measures
Saturday, June 4th, 2011

Franchise Tax Phase Out — SB 19, sponsored by Senator Eric Schmitt, St. Louis County, will gradually (over a five-year period) eliminate a tax that applies to more than 3,000 businesses currently operating in Missouri. The bill implements a phase-out of Missouri’s franchise tax on company assets, such as buildings and inventory. In addition, the bill caps corporate franchise tax liabilities at the amount of each corporation’s tax liability for the 2010 tax year. The Governor has already signed this measure.

The franchise tax has been in existence since 1917 and has been reduced by the legislature over the years. The bill approved by the Missouri General Assembly will further reduce the tax each year until it is phased out entirely in 2016.

To read more, please visit: Missouri Republican News

---

Republicans, Chamber Applaud Senate Approval of $85 Million Corporate Tax Cut

PoliticMo.com
By: Eli Yokley
February 16, 2011

"By limiting and then ending this double taxation on employers, we eliminate a disincentive that penalized companies for investing more in our state," said State Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale), the bill's sponsor. "Now, companies can invest in hiring new employees instead of growing government through higher taxes."

To read more, please visit: PoliticMo.com

---

Truman Review: Eric Schmitt Discusses Road to Missouri Senate

July 18, 2011

Lathrop & Gage partner Eric Schmitt was recently featured in the Truman Review discussing his experiences at Truman State University and his journey to the Missouri Senate.

To read the Truman Review, please visit: Truman Review

---

Photo Gallery: Kirkwood Salutes Service, Remembers Sacrifice

Kirkwood-Webster Groves Patch
By: Owen Skoler
May 30, 2011

Missouri State Senator Eric Schmitt delivers the keynote address to attendees. "This day is a day we rightfully pause and reflect on those who served our country," Schmitt said. The state senator mentioned his grandfather's service in WWII and his participation in D-Day before starting a family in Missouri. Schmitt also expressed his gratitude to the everyday dedication of Missouri servicemen and women.

To read more, please visit: Kirkwood-Webster Groves Patch

---

Missouri House Passes Historic Disabilities Legislation

lstribune.com
By: Lee's Summit Tribune
April 14, 2011

On April 13, the Missouri House of Representatives passed for the first time historic legislation dealing with multiple issues relating to individuals with disabilities. The Omnibus Disabilities bill (HB 555), as amended, is called The Missouri Most Vulnerable Persons (MVP) Act.

…During his floor speech, Grisamore commended the many members of the Missouri General Assembly who have children or grandchildren with disabilities, including Reps. Rick Stream, R-Kirkwood; Dwight Scharnhorst, R-St. Louis; Doug Funderburk, R-St. Peters; and Senators Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, and Eric Schmitt, R-Kirkwood.

To read more, please visit: lstribune.com

---

Schmitt Bill Calls for Elected County Assessor

WebsterKirkwoodTimes.com
By: Webster-Kirkwood Times
January 9, 2009

State Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, recently filed Senate Joint Resolution 5, a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, would require the assessor in St. Louis County to be elected, rather than appointed.

"St. Louis County officials have made recent comments that assessed values are expected to remain close to the same as years' past, even as the housing market continues to struggle," Schmitt said. "Making sure the voters have a say in who holds the office of assessor in St. Louis County and ensuring that property tax bills reflect changes in the market is an issue of fundamental fairness and accountability."

To read more, please visit: Webster-Kirkwood Times

---

Blessed Reminder of Why Autism Legislation is Important

bizjournals.com
Content Provided By: Senator Eric Schmitt
Published by: St. Louis Business Journals
May 30, 2010

Following are excerpts from remarks made before the Senate following the Missouri Legislature’s passage of Autism Insurance Reform on May 12.

I want to thank the senator from the Second (Sen. Scott Rupp) for his leadership. He was a great partner in working with this, and through all of the obstacles and landmines that exist when you try to pass a real piece of substantive legislation that upon my first coming into the General Assembly, to be truthful, I probably didn’t know all those traps existed. But anything worth doing that’s hard is worth doing the right way, and I feel like we’ve done it the right way.

To read the rest of Senator Schmmitt's remarks, please visit: bizjournals.com

---

Governor Signs Autism Insurance Reform Bill

STLtoday.com
By: St. Louis Post Dispatch
June 12, 2010

Gov. Jay Nixon on Thursday signed into law a bill requiring insurance companies to cover the diagnosis and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders.

House Bill 1311, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2011, requires coverage of up to $40,000 annually for youth through age 18. Coverage includes applied behavioral analysis therapy. Previously, insurance companies typically denied coverage for this expensive therapy, which many experts consider the most effective in helping children with autism develop social and communication skills.

To read more, please visit: STLtoday.com

---

2,000 Rally For Bill Calling For Autism Coverage

STLtoday.com
By: Michele Munz
September 21, 2009

O'FALLON, MO. - Parents in the crowd wiped their eyes as the legislator told how he is fighting for therapy that will help a father take his son to a ballgame, a mother enjoy a movie with her daughter and a family go out to dinner.

"We know if we pass legislation, we will give these children a better shot," Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, said Sunday at a rally supporting legislation requiring insurance companies to cover therapy for children with autism.

Nearly 2,000 people attended the four-hour rally and fair, organizers said, at T.R. Hughes Ballpark. Many were families of children with the disorder.

To read more, please visit: STLtoday.com

---

Eric Schmitt Named to 40 Under 40 by St. Louis Business Journal

November 20, 2009

Lathrop & Gage attorney Eric Schmitt (Real Estate - Clayton) has been named by the St. Louis Business Journal a member of its 2010 class of 40 Under 40 award winners. According to the publication, the honorees were chosen by a panel of Business Journal editors and former winners based on career achievements and community work.

To read more, please visit: Lathrop & Gage

---

Incentives Proposed for Chrysler Plant Site

bizjournals.com
By: St. Louis Business Journal
January 27, 2011

More businesses that move into and near the old Chrysler plant in Fenton would receive tax credits for expansion, under legislation that Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, and Rep. Mike Leara, R-St. Louis County, are filing Thursday.

The bill expands an existing program, the Missouri Quality Jobs program, to specifically target business expansion projects at the Chrysler site and within a one-mile radius. The incentives would not be available to the company until the investment is made and jobs are created, Schmitt said. The legislation allows the expanded incentives to continue until Oct. 31, 2014.

To read more, please visit: bizjournals.com

---

County Vote on Assessor Heads Into Uncharted Waters

St Louis Post-Dispatch
By: Paul Hampel
July 5, 2010

CLAYTON - St. Louis County is headed into uncharted electoral waters with its Aug. 3 vote on whether to have an elected rather than appointed assessor.

The rest of the state will vote on the matter Nov. 2, and some experts are confused about what will happen if the county and statewide votes have different results.

The dueling votes were set up in May, when the County Council approved County Executive Charlie A. Dooley's request to put the issue on the August ballot.

Last year, state legislators put it on the statewide November ballot as an amendment to the state constitution.

To read more, please visit: STLToday.com