NCI, North County Chambers Present 2012 Legislative Agenda

Nine state legislators agreed with a number of the agenda items laid out by organizations and chambers in the 2012 North County Legislative Reception Thursday night.

(NCI) partnered with the , Maryland Heights and Northwest Chambers of Commerce to present a joint legislative agenda to area state lawmakers.

Although a number of topics such as economic development, healthcare and transportation were discussed, education and taxes seemed to be the dominant points of discussion for the night.

Under the groups’ education agenda, they support “legislation to establish reasonable parameters for the movement of students from unaccredited districts to accredited districts.” The agenda item directly correlates to the and the costs associated with such a move.

Sen. Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield) said that she has sponsored legislation that she has coined “The Turner Fix.” Under this bill, SB706, it would allow accredited districts to limit enrollment to however many could be served. In turn, it would also allow for private schools in the St. Louis County area to open their doors to students who currently live in an unaccredited school district.

“My bill accommodates all concerns and recommendations covered in the legislative agenda,” Cunningham said.

She said that the bill has been heard in committee, and she expects that it will be out of the State Senate's General Laws committee by next week as a high priority piece of legislation.

The North County legislative agenda addressed two concerns, streamlining sales and use taxes, and Rep. Margo McNeil (D-Florissant) said that she has taken the issues on directly, sponsoring a bill called, “The Mainstreet Fairness Bill,” HB 1215, which would modernize and update the state’s tax codes.

Under the bill, purchases made online from websites, such as Amazon or eBay, could be charged a state sales tax, she said. She said that money should be kept in the state and not continue to give incentives for spending out of state.

Overall, NCI President and CEO Rebecca Zoll said that the event was successful.

“North County is consistently lucky to have a group of legislators that we have representing us,” she said. “They come out and participate at these types of events, and they try to answer questions for constituents and they listen to their constituents.”

Zoll said the next step is for the chambers and NCI to work with the legislators to achieve the agenda items the groups outlined.