|
|
 |
Manager’s Memo - for the week ending May 9, 2008
VoIP Bill Sent to Governor: By a 121-26 vote, the Missouri House of Representatives Monday gave final approval to legislation granting ILECS,CLECS and VoIP providers new pricing and regulatory flexibility. The bill, HB 1779, had been returned to the House for approval of several Senate amendments that clarified interconnection rights and agreements under the new law and tightened price adjustment provisions affecting certain carriers.
The bill now heads to Governor Blunt for approval. Under state constitution, the Governor has until July 14 to approve all legislation passed by the General Assembly this session.
Follow this link for the full text of HB 1779.
Lawmakers Approve State Budget: State lawmakers Wednesday approved a $22.4 billion operating budget for fiscal 2009, beating the constitutional deadline for passage by two days. The dozen bills that comprise the spending plan contain a $957 million increase over the current year. The budget will provide modest increases in aid to local schools, higher education and health care providers.
Other notable action this week included final passage of a $240 million tax credit plan to entice Canadian airplane manufacturer Bombardier to build a plant near Kansas City.
Effort to Tax Wireless Teed Up: A late-session attempt to tax wireless phones to fund 911 operations in first-class counties has cropped up in the closing days of the session. Amendments to allow voters in the state's most-populous counties to vote on a 911 tax have been proposed for several bills, most notably an omnibus local government measure pending in the House. That bill, SB 765, should be up for debate early next week. More than two dozen floor amendments are pending for the bill.
Some observers believe the wireless tax amendment has been added as an "anchor" to scuttle that and other bills, although lobbyists for both St. Louis and Jackson counties have been actively pushing the plan.
Back to Current Manager's Memo
|
|
