Republican lawmakers: Nixon key to Boeing deal

Personal involvement from Gov. Jay Nixon, something Republican lawmakers say they did not see during his first term, was the key to putting together a proposal for Boeing and getting it passed.

In today's Columbia Tribune, veteran reporter Rudi Keller details the Republicans' thoughts about Nixon's role in the process:

Nixon met with Sens. John Lamping of Ladue, Brad Lager of Savannah, Ed Emery of Lamar, Rob Schaaf of St. Joseph and Dan Brown of Rolla.

"We were trying to find places where we agreed," Lamping said Friday. "There were more than enough of us to kill the Boeing bill but we were trying to see what would allow that bill to come to pass."

The article also notes that Speaker of the House Tim Jones said the key to the deal was Nixon meeting with opponents of tax credits and brokering a deal.