This legislation passed the Senate on Wednesday, March 12, 2008. The following day, the Coalition's lobbyist in Jefferson City approached Senator Clemens regarding the disastrous effect this Bill with its amendment would have on tax credit programs like those for Historic Preservation and Rebuilding Communities, which the Coalition created in 1998 and 1999, respectively. We are fortunate that the Senator agreed to kill the Bill and the threat was derailed. This episode makes two things very clear:
1. Legislative threats need not come in the overt form of a Bill seeking to sunset or cap credits; they can be added "under the radar" as amendments to other legislation;
2. The Coalition's presence in Jefferson City is needed to ensure continual and effective monitoring of the legislature. Every single legislative session since its creation, the Historic Tax Credit has been threatened, and every single year, we have been instrumental in helping to save it.
We can continue our activities only for as long as we are funded by stakeholders who recognize the crucial importance of programs like the Historic and Rebuilding Communities Tax Credits. We are the best "insurance" available to lobby legislators and promote education statewide regarding programs that have transformed downtown St. Louis and Kansas City as well as smaller communities like Carthage and Hannibal.
Please help us continue our efforts. Checks payable to "Missouri Coalition for Historic Preservation & Economic Development" should be sent to the Coalition at 100 S. 4th Street, Ste. 900, St. Louis, Mo. 63102.