China-Hub Plan for Lambert Airport Stalled Over Tax Break Timing

State lawmakers, with the clock ticking on time left in the special session called by Gov. Jay Nixon, have until Nov. 6 when the session expires by statute, to move on an economic development plan that includes Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

State senators were expected to vote on weather to send economic development legislation, which includes the so-called "Aerotropolis" China Hub bill to conference committee to resolve differences with the House version passed Oct. 6.

However, Monday night, word came that nothing would happen until Oct. 25.

State Rep. Jill Schupp (D-Creve Coeur) had tweeted about the legislation last week: "We'll see if the senate will even consider it."

Then Friday, Schupp told Patch that the Aerotropolis legislation is "dying a slow death."

However, reached by phone out-of-state on vacation, State Sen. Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield) said the only major issue of separation between the House and Senate was that of sunset provisions on tax credit programs.

Cunningham said she supports putting sunsets on tax credit programs which aren't getting high enough returns on investment.

The creation of Lambert Airport as an import-export hub with China and the Midwest would evidently require some tax credits.

For example, in a GOP Senate Caucus meeting, Cunningham said she proposed a 2-year probationary period for economic development tax credit programs that don't generate more than 70 cents on the dollar. If they fail to hit the mark, they would sunset or end, immediately, under her proposal.