Engler: Compromise is the best way to encourage job creation in Missouri

In his weekly newsletter, Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, says it is time to do some negotiating and get things done in the Senate:

I have been concerned this session about the attitude that seems to be dominating the Senate. I am a strong supporter of negotiating when passing legislation—the Senate has a long-standing tradition of allowing measures to be fully vetted and welcoming compromise when another member has an issue with a bill.

This week, we saw the beginnings of the debate on “Right-to-Work” (Senate Bill 1). The bill is very controversial. Proponents say it will be the greatest economic development tool ever and opponents say it is a direct attack on all unions and their members. When the bill was heard the crowd overflowed into two other hearing rooms and the hallway.

What bothers me is that there is such strong opposition on the bill and it seems that some are prepared to force the legislation down their throats. Washington did this on the health care bill and they are still in a major fight. We need to look for some compromises.

Also, there was legislation this week that made its way through the process after debate and discussion. Senate Bills 18 and 19, which were approved by the Senate, would affect the state’s corporate franchise tax. Corporate franchise tax is a tax on a business’s assets. It is essentially double taxing our businesses that already pay sales, income, and property taxes. Senate Bill 18 would freeze the corporate franchise tax at a company’s 2010 rate, making sure that companies aren’t penalized for expanding. Senate Bill 19 would phase out the corporate franchise tax over a five-year period, completely repealing this tax over time.

I was frustrated this week because the committee that reviews bills that have a fiscal note did not meet. The chairman of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and Fiscal Oversight choose not to meet which slowed the legislative process down. Because it seems that progress is delayed now, I hope we don’t have to rush through legislation at the end of session “just to pass something”.