2009 Legislative Survey Results

1. Do you support revisions to Missouri’s personal income tax code that would result in fewer brackets?

Yes 74.9% No 10.2% No Opinion 10.5% Blank 4.4%

2. Do you support changes that would make it easier for new alternative energy projects, such as wind farms and hydroelectric plants, to be constructed in the state?

Yes 80.7% No 13.3% No Opinion 3.4% Blank 2.7%

3. Do you support repealing the 1976 law so that utilities may increase customer rates to pay for new power plants while they are under construction?

Yes 19.1% No 72.0% No Opinion 6.3% Blank 2.6%

4. Should the legislature reinstate campaign contribution limits?

Yes 87.1% No 8.4% No Opinion 2.4% Blank 2.2%

5. Should Missouri implement some form of early voting?

Yes 65.5% No 28.1% No Opinion 4.0% Blank 2.4%

6. Should Missouri do away with term limits?

Yes 19.7% No 73.0% No Opinion 4.7% Blank 2.6%

7. Should Missouri law require Plan B to be available only by prescription?

Yes 35.8% No 56.1% No Opinion 5.2% Blank 3.0%

8. Do you consider yourself pro-life or pro-choice?

Pro-life 38.6% Pro-choice 52.4% Blank 9%

9. Should the penalty for assaulting a sport’s official/coach be increased?

Yes 65.9% No 15.6% No Opinion 15.6% Blank 2.9%

10. Should sports wagering be legalized in the State of Missouri?

Yes 45.8% No 42.4% No Opinion 8.6% Blank 3.2%

11. Should restaurants with more than 15 locations nationwide (Chains) be required to post calorie information next to the price on menus and menu boards?

Yes 50.6% No 38.1% No Opinion 10.0% Blank 1.4%

12. Should local school districts be required to integrate a minimum of 90 minutes of physical activity per week into the school day for elementary and secondary school students?

Yes 83.5% No 11.9% No Opinion 3.5% Blank 1.1%

13. Should people or entities that own or use personal information be required to disclose a breach of security to any resident whose information was wrongly acquired?

Yes 94.8% No 1.2% No Opinion 2.3% Blank 1.7%

14. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Representative Jason Grill is doing?

Approve 55.7% Somewhat Approve 22.5% Somewhat Disapprove 5.0%
Disapprove 2.4% Blank 14.4%

15. Do you approve or disapprove of the job Mayor Mark Funkhouser is doing in Kansas City?

Approve 11.2% Somewhat Approve 19.8% Somewhat Disapprove 25.3%
Disapprove 31.6% Blank 12.0%

16. In your opinion, the state economy is………………….

Improving rapidly 0.3% Slowly on the rise 18.6%
Staying the same 26.4% Getting worse 44.3%
Blank 10.4%

17. Which political party do you tend to identify or affiliate yourself with the most?

Democrat 30.9% Republican 29.1%
Other 13.6% Blank 26.4

House Crime Prevention Committee Considers Rep. Grill's Legislation to Protect Sports Officials

An increase in violence towards sports officials has prompted Representative Jason Grill, D-Parkville, to propose legislation that would ensure the safety of such officials during sporting events. The House Crime Prevention Committee heard testimony this week on HB 754 which calls for tougher penalties for unruly sports fans found guilty of attempting to cause bodily harm to officials during sporting events.

“Increasing the penalty to a class A misdemeanor will ensure that officials can do their job fairly without fear of physical retribution from disgruntled fans,” said Grill. “There are already many precautions taken to protect athletes on the field. It is time that we start doing more to protect Missouri’s officials.”

Many witnesses came to the hearing in support of the bill including the Missouri State High School Activities Association, Central Missouri Soccer Referees Association, Mid Missouri Umpires Association, and several other longtime sports officials. Representative Steve Hodges, D- East Prairie, a sports official, also testified in support of the bill.

The bill will now need to voted on in executive session to be allowed for debate on the House floor.

House Ways and Means Committee Approves Rep. Grill's Film Tax Credit Legislation

Members of the House Ways and Means Committee this week approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Jason Grill, D-Parkville, that would increase the amount of tax credits offered to entice film production projects to locate in Missouri. The committee approved Rep Grill’s legislation (House Bill 767) by a vote of 9-1 during a public hearing held Thursday, April 9.

Rep. Grill’s bill would increase the cap on tax credits for qualified film production projects from $4.5 million to $10 million per year. Rep. Grill said his goal is to attract more motion picture productions to Missouri, which would create new jobs, increase revenue and further the state’s economic development efforts. During the hearing for the bill, several individuals testified in favor of increasing the tax credit caps including: Lorah Steiner, President of the Missouri Motion Media Association; Ray McCarty, President of Associated Industries of Missouri; Kyna Iman of Missouri Citizens for the Arts; and Geno Hart, Executive Manager with Paramount Pictures. No opposition to the legislation was voiced.

“Missouri’s film industry represents a great deal of untapped potential in regard to the amount of additional economic development that is possible for our state. By expanding the tax credits we offer, we can realize much of that potential by bringing in more and more job-producing film projects,” said Rep. Grill. “I want to thank the members of the House Ways and Means Committee for giving this bill full consideration and approving it. I look forward to the House Rules Committee moving quickly to send the bill to the House floor where I am confident it will receive strong support from both parties.”

Rep. Grill’s legislation now heads to the House Rules Committee where it must be approved before moving to the House floor for debate.

Rep. Grill's Proposed Legislation on Film Tax Credits Drawing Attention

"St Louis Rolls the (tax) credits"
Efforts under way to boost Missouri’s film tax credit from $4.5 million to $10 million
St. Louis Business Journal - by Lisa R. Brown

The tax incentive used to lure George Clooney’s movie to St. Louis almost didn’t happen.
Last fall, the $4.5 million in state tax credits to help pay production costs of Paramount Pictures’ “Up In The Air” got caught in the shuffle of transitioning governors. Outgoing Gov. Matt Blunt wouldn’t sign off on tax credits, leaving the approval to incoming Gov. Jay Nixon, who was not yet sworn in.

Time was running short, and the film’s producers and Director Jason Reitman were close to moving the bulk of the filming to Michigan, which has an unlimited amount of tax credits available for film production. Reitman, who directed the Oscar-winning “Juno,” came to St. Louis with a team of producers the week of the vice presidential debate in early October. By November, Reitman’s team, including St. Louis native Michael Beugg as executive producer, had settled on the St. Louis area as a primary location to film portions of the movie, in which Clooney portrays a businessman on a mission to accumulate a million frequent-flier miles. Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, with thousands of square feet of empty space after cutbacks by American Airlines, was viewed as a natural fit for the airport scenes.

“I told (Missouri Film Commission Director) Jerry Jones, they’re going to Michigan. We’re going to miss this,” recounted Kim Tucci, former chairman of the commission. Tucci also heads the St. Louis Film Office and is a St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission board member and co-owner of the Pasta House restaurant chain.

Beugg, whose producing credits include “Little Miss Sunshine” and “He’s Just Not That Into You,” said his St. Louis ties were not a factor in choosing to film here. Beugg was born in St. Louis and graduated from St. Louis University High School in 1981. “The tax credits were the No. 1 reason,” he said.

Beugg was a line producer on the 1988 film “The Big Brass Ring,” which also was shot in St. Louis. “If the tax credits were not approved, it’s certain we would have gone to another state that has tax credits for ‘Up in The Air.’”

But St. Louis got its happy ending. The state gave its approval at the 11th hour, and “Up in The Air” garnered the highest amount of tax credits ever given in the 10-year history of Missouri’s film tax-credit program — $4.5 million, the total amount available for 2009.
By Tucci’s estimate, the $30 million production of “Up in The Air” will have an economic impact of at least $50 million on the St. Louis region, generating 500 jobs in St. Louis and translating into 6,000 local hotel room nights. The film is building 50 sets in the St. Louis area, including at Lambert, Affton High School and dozens of other sites throughout the region. Beugg said two-thirds of the film’s crew, or 88 people, are Missouri residents working full time.

Boosting the credit
To help build the state’s viability for attracting more film production, a new effort is under way to more than double the amount of available tax credits. Missouri Rep. Jason Grill (D-Kansas City) has introduced House Bill 767 to expand the state tax credit to $10 million for 2010. The bill does not yet have a hearing date.

Grill said he’s convinced that boosting funding for movie production in Missouri is a sure-fire job creator. On March 20, Grill, an attorney and Saint Louis University alumnus, traveled to St. Louis to appear as an extra in “Up in The Air.”

“I think it’s so important for job creation and our economy,” Grill said of the tax credit bill. “There are many other states that have uncapped tax credits for film production, including Iowa, Illinois and Louisiana. We have to remain competitive with other states around us.”
Missouri is one of three dozen states that have some form of tax credits available for film production, but getting the measure passed by the state Legislature will take a Herculean effort, as tax credits are under fire. When Nixon was elected governor last fall, he ordered a review of all tax credits in the face of a $261 million dollar budget shortfall. Legislators in recent weeks have taken aim at some tax credits, calling for caps and sunsets on some, such as Missouri’s tax credit for renovations to residential and commercial historic properties.

In Wisconsin, Gov. Jim Doyle is pushing to end that state’s existing film tax-credit program — which provides a 25 percent tax credit on film production costs and a 15 percent tax credit for infrastructure costs for production — and replace it with a $1 million grant program. Missouri’s film tax credit provides a 35 percent tax credit for film production costs.

“Tax credits are under siege right now, but this is a good tax credit that works, and there’s data to support it,” Grill said.

The Missouri Film Commission’s Jones said he’s bracing for a battle. “Obviously, we would like to have the increase, but in these times with the view on tax credits, I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. Jones organized a lobbying day in Jefferson City on March 31 for supporters of HB 767 to talk to legislators about getting a hearing set for the bill.

Boosting funds available for the tax credits does have some bipartisan support — Rep. Mike Sutherland, (R-Warrenton), a member of the Missouri Film Commission, said he’s backing the increase. The commission must approve all films and commercials that receive the tax credits, which also must be approved by the Missouri Department of Economic Development. “The tax credit doesn’t get used unless the dollars are spent,” Sutherland said. “We’re bringing a lot of money from outside the state inside the state.”

St. Louis is nothing short of star-struck with George Clooney’s film “Up in the Air.” Backers of the film-production tax credit said the buzz around the movie should help drum up support for increasing it.

Dennis Fallon, a Kansas City-based director and producer, is backing an increase in the state’s film tax credit. With “Up in The Air” taking the entire $4.5 million available in tax credit authority for 2009, Fallon said he’ll have to choose an out-of-state location for his next movie if the tax credits aren’t available.

Fallon’s Waldo West Productions received $285,784 through the state tax credit program in 2006 to help fund “Even More than Puppy Love,” a family feature shot in the Kansas City area. Fallon has directed or produced four films in Missouri, most recently, “All Roads Lead Home.”

“It’s almost impossible to produce a film without incentives,” Fallon said. “When we produce a film, we do everything in Missouri, from pre-production, to production and post-production. All that money goes back into Missouri.” Fallon said based on the success of “All Roads Lead Home,” which is now available on DVD, he has a deal in the works on the first of a three-film family series. “If I have this film in place and there’s no tax credits in Missouri, I’m not stopping my film. I’ll go somewhere else, and I don’t want to do that.”
Kim Tucci, former chairman of the Missouri Film Commission, said landing “Up in the Air” is a positive step for the local movie industry because it lets other filmmakers see the viability of producing a movie here, and it helps build a skilled support staff base. “It’s a good test for St. Louis to show how film-friendly it is here,” Tucci said. His wife, Sharon Tucci, heads St. Louis-based talent agency TalentPlus, which is supplying “Up In The Air” with actors. Sharon Tucci also is a board member of Missouri Motion Media Association, which lobbies state officials to provide funding to bring additional movies to Missouri.

St. Louis has served as a backdrop for dozens of films, from “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” in 1987 to “King of the Hill” in 1993. Recent large-scale movie productions shot in St. Louis include “Meet Bill,” starring Jessica Alba, in 2006, and “The Game of Their Lives” in 2003.

Not all of the movies filmed in St. Louis that have received state tax credits have been hits or even widely released. In 2008, 11 productions shared in the $4.5 million in available tax credit authority, including a Harley-Davidson commercial that received $53,900 in tax credits.

But Kim Tucci said it doesn’t matter whether the film ultimately is a critical success or a flop. What matters, he said, is the production dollars spent while filming. “I don’t care if it’s spent in Kansas City, Springfield or Branson, the bottom line is how much money they spend while they’re here.”

Rep. Grill named ranking member of Financial Institutions panel

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – House Minority Floor Leader Paul Levota, D-Independence, has appointed state Rep. Jason Grill, D-Parkville, as the ranking Democratic member of the House Financial Institutions Committee. In the role of ranking member, Grill will coordinate and oversee the activities of the other Democrats on the panel.

“This is an important committee, especially given the financial situation of the state and country,” Grill said. “As the ranking Democrat, I will promote stronger consumer protections and a crackdown on unscrupulous lending practices that have pushed many Missourians to the brink of foreclosure and beyond.

The Financial Institutions Committee handles all legislation relating to banks, credit unions, savings and loans, and other financial institutions.

Rep. Jason Grill Advocates for Calorie Information on Restaurant Menus

Jefferson City – Representative Jason Grill, D-Parkville, this week filed House Bill 755 which would require food service establishments that are one of a group of 15 or more doing business nationally to display calorie information to consumers on menu boards. The caloric information will be required to be located alongside prices and similar in size. Rep. Grill indicated the bill is similar to code implemented in New York City, which was the first U.S. city to establish such a regulation to fight obesity and promote healthy eating habits. Other cities including Portland, Seattle, and Philadelphia have all passed similar legislation. So far, California is the only state to pass a similar measure, but legislation is moving in Indiana on this issue.

The bill will require that caloric information be available to consumers to encourage them to select lower-calorie meals, which will lead to a lower incidence of obesity. It is an additional step that will ensure customers have accurate nutritional information about the health content of food they consume. Studies have shown that customers of restaurants often underestimate the calorie content of meals.

“We know we must do everything we can to promote healthy lifestyles. That includes everything from providing citizens with adequate nutritional information to ensuring children engage in regular physical activity each week. The bill I have sponsored will give our state a solid start towards allowing access to important nutritional information to help our citizen’s health and well-being,” said Rep. Grill.

Rep. Jason Grill Introduces Consumer Protection Legislative Package

Jefferson City – Representative Jason Grill, D-Parkville, this week introduced three pieces of legislation aimed at strengthening Missouri’s consumer protection laws. The bills are part of a larger pack of legislation sponsored by Rep. Grill covering issues ranging from health care to tax reform.

One piece of legislation introduced by Rep. Grill would require any person or entity that owns or uses personal information concerning a Missouri resident in any form to disclose a breach of security to any resident whose personal information was wrongfully acquired. The legislation established provisions for the prevention and protection from security breaches.

A second piece of legislation sponsored by Rep. Grill would require any business that conducts business or maintains personal information of residents in Missouri to take all reasonable measures to protect against the unauthorized access to or use of the information.

“The rate of identity theft has risen at an alarming rate and our state has lagged behind in addressing this serious security risk. There are 44 states who have already taken action to enact security breach laws. It is time for us to move forward on this issue and provide Missourians with the protections they need,” said Rep. Grill.

The final piece of legislation introduced by Rep. Grill would establish the Wireless Telephone Consumer Protection Act to protect consumers in their dealings with commercial service providers. The bill includes requirements that a wireless carrier provide a coverage map at the time of sale, make price and fee disclosures at the time of sale, and clearly disclose in writing to the customer at the time of sale whether a price is guaranteed for the term of the contract and if there are any early termination fees.

“It’s important that Missourians know what they are paying for and that they receive the services they are due. The Wireless Telephone Consumer Protection Act is a simple but powerful tool to ensure wireless phone users are not charged hidden fees or provided with service different from what was promised,” said Rep. Grill.

Rep. Jason Grill Sponsors Legislation to Ensure Fairness and Accessibility in Missouri’s Elections Process

Jefferson City – Representative Jason Grill, D-Parkville, recently introduced two pieces of legislation with the goal of ensuring the election process in Missouri is fair and easily accessible for Missouri voters. The bills are part of a larger package of legislation sponsored by Rep. Grill covering issues ranging from consumer protection to tax reform.

One piece of legislation, House Bill 771, filed by Rep. Grill would establish one-stop voting sites that allow a person to register and vote at the same time. Under the legislation, an applicant would have to fill out a voter registration application form and provide proof of residency. An applicant would vote by absentee ballot or vote on the ballot provided at the polling place if registering to vote on the day of the election. In addition, a person could choose not to vote immediately. In that case, the registration would be processed and the person could vote at a one-stop voting site or at the person's correct polling place in the same election.

“There has been an emphasis on improving voter turnout but we continue to see too few people come out to participate in the process. One-stop voting is something that has been used with success by several other states,” said Rep. Grill. “By making it easy to register and vote even on the day of the election, we can ensure more voices are heard and the will of the people is served.”

Another piece of legislation, House Bill 772, sponsored by Rep. Grill would establish procedures for listing candidates for statewide office, state senator, and state representative in random orders on the election ballot. Rep. Grill said the purpose of the bill was to ensure no candidate is given an unfair advantage by being listed first, last, or in the middle of their respective election on the ballot.

“Under this system, we would have ballots printed with an equal number listing each candidate’s name first. With this, no individual has the advantage of being listed first on each ballot simply because of different circumstances,” said Rep. Grill. “Both of these changes are common sense approaches to making our elections process even better.”

Both bills now await assignment to committee for further discussion.

Rep. Jason Grill Outlines Legislative Package Aimed at Improving Missouri’s System of Education

Jefferson City – Representative Jason Grill, D-Parkville, recently introduced several education-based pieces of legislation for the 2009 legislative session. The three education bills are part of an aggressive package of legislation filed by Rep. Grill covering issues ranging from job creation to tax reform.

One piece of legislation would establish the “Missouri Books from Birth Program.” Under the program, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, along with a nonprofit partner, would develop a statewide program to distribute a book each month to children in Missouri from birth to age five. Rep. Grill indicated the bill was similar to one passed in Tennessee and would be an important step toward giving children an educational head start.

“The Books from Birth Program is a great way to promote literacy and a love of reading to children at a very early age that will not only prepare them to meet future academic challenges but also to become productive members of the workforce. I am hopeful my colleagues will work with me this session to make this idea a reality in Missouri,” said Rep. Grill.

Another piece of legislation filed by Rep. Grill would require school board members to have lived in a school district for one year prior to serving on the board for that district. According to Rep. Grill, the bill represents a logical change that would ensure school board members are knowledgeable about the issues facing the school district they serve.

The final piece of education related legislation offered by Rep. Grill, known as the Missouri Diploma and Transcript Act, would create the crime of selling a fraudulent diploma or transcript if a person knowingly sells or offers for sale a diploma or transcript from an educational institution without the express written authorization of the institution or uses a fraudulent diploma when applying for a job or to a higher education institution. The bill is similar to a piece of legislation filed by Rep. Grill in 2008 that received committee approval but did not receive final passage by the Missouri General Assembly before the end of session.

“All of the legislation I have filed this session address issues important to maintaining the integrity of our system of education. We must make certain our children are reading at an early age; that our school board members are qualified to make decisions that will positively impact the lives of students; and that a college diploma and transcript is a protected document. We have an ambitious agenda ahead of us this session, but I am hopeful we will find time to address educational issues,” said Rep. Grill.

The education bills represent a portion of Rep. Grill’s legislative efforts. In total, he has filed 25 pieces of legislation for the 2009 session.

Rep. Jason Grill Sponsors Legislation to Promote Film Production in Missouri

Jefferson City – Filmmakers seeking a business-friendly environment could find Missouri a more attractive destination under legislation filed this week by Representative Jason Grill, D-Parkville.

Rep. Grill introduced House Bill 767 to increase the cap on tax credits for qualified film production projects. The legislation would raise the cap from $4.5 million to $10 million per year. Rep. Grill said his goal is to attract more motion picture productions to Missouri, which would create new jobs, increase revenue and further the state’s economic development effort.

“Missouri is a scenic state that is an ideal location for many movies going into production. Because attracting these movies is a highly competitive endeavor between locations, we must give our state every advantage possible to secure these productions,” said Rep. Grill. “With our focus on job creation this session, my legislation fits perfectly into the current agenda. The more films that are made in Missouri, the more jobs we will create and the more our state revenue will increase. This is a truly bipartisan issue and one I hope members from both sides will work with me to pass.”

Film tax credits are issued to a qualified film production company for up to 35 percent of the amount expended in Missouri for production or production-related activities to facilitate film production in Missouri. To be eligible for the credits, a film production company must have an expected instate expenditure budget of at least $100,000 for films more than 30 minutes in length and at least $50,000 for films less than 30 minutes in length.