Business Agenda Advancing in Missouri

Missouri’s business community is well positioned, legislatively, this year. Already, the House has passed five of the six items identified as priorities by a coalition of business organizations. The Senate has passed half the measures.

The “Fix the Six” slogan refers to six legislative proposals. The agenda focuses on changes to the state’s discrimination and workers’ compensation laws. It also would eliminate Missouri’s corporate franchise tax and the annual inflationary adjustment to the state’s minimum wage. Other proposals would limit business liability in personal injury lawsuits and tweak the state’s bonding authority in order to repay $825 million borrowed from the federal government for unemployment benefits.

Republicans contend the bills will help create jobs.

Some Democrats doubt the business cost-savings actually will translate to more jobs.

The Fix the Six agenda is backed a coalition that — in addition to the state chamber and grocers’ group — includes the National Federation of Independent Business, Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Merchants and Manufacturers Association, groups representing general contractors and restaurants, and regional business groups from St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield.