This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Sept. 7, 2011 - The state Senate convened briefly this morning as about half dozen cars circled the Capitol with "No China Hub" painted on signs and on their windshields. The group also flew the usual yellow "Don't tread on me" flags. The Senate announced that the hearing on the China Hub tax credit package would be held tonight at 7:30. Afterward, the Senate plans to go into a full session at 9 p.m.
At that point, state Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, is expected to resume his filibuster.
Read the Beacon's earlier story below:
As promised, state Sen. Jason Crowell swiftly launched a mini-filibuster Tuesday on the opening day of the General Assembly's special session to highlight his opposition to the proposed economic development package -- in particular the $360 million in tax credits for the effort to persuade China to locate a cargo hub at Lambert airport.
The action by Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, delayed for several hours the state Senate's formal introduction of bills to be considered during the session, which was called by Gov. Jay Nixon at the behest of Republican legislative leaders -- most of whom back the Hub.
After various delays and a Senate GOP caucus, the Senate finally completed its necessary work and ended its first day of the special session shortly after 7 p.m. Crowell peppered the chamber with lengthy comments -- and criticisms -- throughout the seven hours that it was in session.
Supportive legislators are hoping to get the economic package and other bills through the General Assembly before the annual veto session begins Sept. 14. But Crowell, a lawyer, could dramatically slow down the proceedings -- even if he is in the minority.
Crowell's objections are a prime reason the Missouri House isn't planning to do much work until late in the week. House leaders want the Senate to get past any procedural roadblocks imposed by Crowell.
Among other things, Crowell questioned the soundness of the China Hub proposal, also known as Aerotropolis. He asserted sarcastically that it might make more economic sense for the state to "just open a brothel."
"This is amateur hour!'' Crowell asserted at one point -- a jab that appeared to irritate state Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter.
Crowell told Mayer that he took exception to the July flyaround by state legislative leaders, most of them fellow Republicans, to announce that they had reached a deal on an economic development package. Crowell noted that he had not been consulted.
Crowell declared, "It's amazing to me that we have a 'Made in Missouri' " economic package that includes "the subsidization of China-made products...It's insane!"
He contended that many legislators backing the proposal are actually "chasing the next win'' -- their next election -- by trying to appease business interests who support the project.
Crowell got some sympathy from a handful of fellow senators, including state Sen. Tim Green, D-Spanish Lake, who allowed he also had questions about the economic development package.
Green agreed with Crowell that another part of the package -- proposed tax breaks to encourage major sporting events -- was, as Crowell put it, "a joke."
Green said that St. Louis was hampered more by the fact that Lambert is no longer a hub for a major airline, which has resulted in cutbacks in the number of direct flights. Without such flights, said Green, major sporting officials won't want to hold events in St. Louis.
Green, a union member, did not come out against the China Hub -- which is backed by the state AFL-CIO -- but indicated that he did have some questions. He noted that although his district includes land around Lambert, he was not consulted by legislative leaders.
Crowell, meanwhile, also asserted that Nixon, a Democrat, was overstepping his bounds in dictating what legislators may consider during the special session. Nixon's special-session proclamation specified that some economic issues are not to be discussed.
The governor did, however, expand the number of allowable topics by stipulating in a letter Tuesday that lawmakers can consider whether to exempt businesses in Joplin, Mo., from paying property taxes on buildings destroyed by the tornado on May 22.
Mayer appeared to share Crowell's view about Nixon's perceived overreach, to some extent. Mayer cited a legal opinion that the Senate leader said gave legislators more latitude in whatever actions they take -- as long as they are dealing with the topics stipulated by Nixon for the special session.
State Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield, asserted that Nixon was acting improperly in the case of her bill -- also on the agenda -- dealing with student-teacher communications on social media sites such as Facebook.
Nixon's offical special-session "call'' stipulates that legislators are to repeal the pertinent portions of Cunningham's bill, called the Amy Hestir Protection Act. Cunningham is seeking to amend the bill with language that she says will resolve the concerns.
The act already has prompted two lawsuits, which contend that the provisions violate teachers' rights of free speech.
