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Politics & Government

Missouri Watchdog: On The Shelf For Special Session

Surgery will keep Brian Hook in mending mode when the state legislative special session starts next week in Jefferson City.

No special session coverage due to surgery

 I am bummed.

I have been following and reporting about tax credits and other economic development incentives since last year when Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon formed a commission to look for ways to reform the state’s 61 tax credit programs.

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Tax credit reform, however, did not pass before the end of the legislative session in May.

Since then, I have been told I need surgery on my arm to repair nerve damage.

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While on vacation, earlier this month, the surgery was scheduled for Friday.

Being an optimist, apparently, I heard the surgeon say I would be out for at least two weeks following the surgery. My wife heard it could be a month. We both heard it may take six months before my left hand is fully functional.

Then, while I was out of state last week, the governor scheduled the special session to start after Labor Day.

The call for the special session includes a number of tax credits and incentives to attract and retain businesses, along with legislation to increase exports through the development of an air cargo hub at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport — commonly referred to as Aerotropolis — along with constructing high-tech data centers.

Nixon also asked the Missouri General Assembly to take up legislation to move the presidential primary to March, legislation returning control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department back to St. Louis, and he asked lawmakers to

As the special session gets underway Tuesday, I will likely be on a heavy dose of narcotics.

I will undoubtedly try to follow what goes on in Jefferson City from a distance at home here in St. Louis.

But we all can agree that any reporting about the special session on my part would be a bit trippy. Therefore, unless it lasts longer than anticipated, I will most likely be writing about history, not news, when I return.

brhook@missouriwatchdog.org, (314) 482-7944

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