Jeff Smith for Missouri

Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday to Deliver Energy, Customer Savings

Sen. Smith-Sponsored Energy-Saving Program Runs April 19-25

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri’s first annual Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday — an energy-saving program introduced by Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, and passed by the General Assembly in 2008 — will be observed this month in conjunction with Earth Day celebrations throughout the state.

The holiday, which runs from April 19-25, allows Missouri businesses and consumers to save money, save energy, and stimulate the economy when they purchase new Energy Star qualified appliances in Missouri. Participation in the sales tax holiday means a savings of at least 4.225 percent, with additional tax savings available in some cities, counties and other governmental entities that opt to participate in the holiday. In some areas, the tax savings jump from 4.225 percent to nearly 8 percent (see a list of participating entities at http://dor.mo.gov/tax/business/sales/taxholiday/green/).

“The Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday is an ideal time to buy energy-efficient appliances for a reduced price and to begin saving on future utility bills,” Sen. Smith said. “Using energy-efficient appliances reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which helps the environment, and Missouri families who buy these appliances can also save about 1/3 on their energy bill.”

Energy-Star-certified appliances that qualify for the sales tax exemption are:

• Clothes washers

• Refrigerators

• Freezers

• Dishwashers

• Water heaters

• Furnaces

• Air conditioners

• Heat pumps

The sales tax exemption only applies to the first $1,500 on each appliance. If the appliance costs more than $1,500, the regular sales tax rate is in effect for any of the purchase price above $1,500.

The dates of the tax-free holiday purposely coincide with Earth Day so local communities, schools, and others can help educate consumers on cost-saving, energy-efficient practices.

“Greener homes bring tremendous environmental benefits to our communities and to our state, so I want to encourage all Missourians to participate in the holiday — and to seek other opportunities for making better energy efficient choices,” Sen. Smith said.

From my issues page:

Missouri State Historical Preservation Tax Credit

The Missouri State Historical Tax Credit is one initiative that successfully attracts new industry. The tax credit provides an incentive for the redevelopment of commercial and residential historic structures, a vital aspect of attracting new business. This influx of businesses effectively creates a direct cash infusion into state and local budgets. This point was demonstrated in 2000, a year in which the cost of the credits was $20 million while the direct increase in state and local taxes for that year was $30 million. The credits generated 1 ½ times their cost; it is evident that capping this credit would increase the deficit and worsen the budget crisis. Overall, the total benefits of the Missouri State Historical Preservation Tax Credit far outweigh the direct infusion of monies, resulting in an economic boost to Missouri’s economy by over $1 billion every year. In addition, limitations on this tax program would be detrimental to the tourism industry. The tax credit currently generates $660 million annually in heritage tourism spending while also increasing state revenue and creating over 20,000 jobs. We cannot afford to limit such valuable benefits by placing a cap on the tax credit. Without the Missouri State Historical Tax Credit, developers and homeowners will not invest the necessary amount of capital and urban renewal will be severely hindered. This credit is important not only to the city of St. Louis, but to Missouri as a whole. It creates state revenue, jobs, and redevelopment both for cities and rural communities.

When I ran for the Missouri Senate in 2006, I promised the 4th District I would be in Jefferson City to protect their jobs. One way I promised to do that was to use my ability to talk for long periods to filibuster bills that will hurt the City of Saint Louis.

Yesterday I was doing exactly that. I have never tried to pit the interests of my District against those in other Districts, but I will not stand by as jobs in my District are cut for jobs in other Districts.

Wow. A politician who keeps his promises.

SB 140 Provides More Options for Parents to Meet Child Support Obligation

JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Senate today passed a bill sponsored by Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, that would provide Missouri parents struggling to pay child support with more options to begin or resume financial support of their children, while saving the state millions of dollars. Senator Smith’s Senate Bill 140 would allow circuit courts that deal with criminal nonsupport cases to create special courts to assign nonviolent defendants to court-supervised educational, vocational or employment training, substance abuse treatment or work programs. Under the proposal, defendants could have criminal penalties dismissed, reduced or modified if they successfully complete court-ordered treatment or training programs and begin or resume child support payments.

JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, is announcing his sponsorship and support for Governor Jay Nixon’s nomination of St. Louis attorney Bettye Battle-Turner, 62, of St. Louis to the St. Louis Board of Commissioners. Mrs. Turner, a former municipal and administrative judge for the city of St. Louis, will serve on the board, which oversees the Metropolitan Police Department.

Senator Smith will sponsor Mrs. Turner during her confirmation hearing later this month. If confirmed by the Missouri Senate, Turner will serve for a term ending Feb. 25, 2013.

###

JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, was recently appointed to serve on the newly-formed Senate Educated Citizenry 2020 Committee. The committee is responsible for studying how elementary, secondary, and higher education systems prepare students to be productive and successful citizens in Missouri.

Senate President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, named senators serving in their first term to the committee. Other members serving on the committee with Sen. Smith include: Sen. Robin Wright-Jones, D-St. Louis, Sen. Wes Shoemyer, D-Clarence, Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg, and Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield.

Kimbrough joins the nine-member board, which is responsible for adopting the rules and regulations for the guidance and supervision of the university and includes representatives from Missouri’s nine congressional districts. He will serve a six-year term.

JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, is encouraging St. Louis students interested in attending college and applying for partial or full college scholarships to attend the annual African American History Month College/Scholarship Fair on Sat., Feb. 28, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the St. Louis Airport Marriott Hotel, located on Natural Bridge Road directly across from Lambert Field.

The college/scholarship fair is sponsored by the Infinite Scholars Program of Missouri and the 4Sho4Kids Foundation. Registration is required and can be made by pre-registering online at http://www.mohela.com/infinitescholar/.

JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, was recently named to serve on the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Education by Senate Leader Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph.

The Joint Committee on Education, comprised of seven members of the Senate and seven members of the House of Representatives, reviews and monitors the progress of education in the state’s public schools and institutions of higher education.

JEFFERSON CITY — Senator Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, joined area leaders this week as guest teachers during Teach for America Week in St. Louis (Feb. 9-13). Senator Smith participated in the annual event at Soldan IS High School on Feb. 9.

Teach for America is a national corps of outstanding recent college graduates who commit to teach for at least two years in urban and rural public schools. The highly successful program was the model for a similar program created by Sen. Smith — the Missouri Teaching Fellows Program — approved by the General Assembly in 2007. The Missouri Teaching Fellows Program is a loan forgiveness program for top high school students who enter Missouri college teaching programs and agree to teach in unaccredited schools as they begin their teaching careers.

JEFFERSON CITY — A Senate panel is considering a bill (Senate Bill 141) proposed by Senator Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, that supports a non-custodial father’s right to challenge paternity judgments in instances where new DNA evidence reveals the petitioner is not the child’s father. The bill is under consideration by the General Laws Committee.

Under the proposed legislation, a father excluded as a child’s biological father through DNA testing could be relieved of child support payments and have criminal non-support records expunged.