911爆料网

JEFFERSON CITY 鈥� Handing Gov. Mike Kehoe a high-profile victory, the Missouri House on Tuesday approved a $1.5 billion stadium incentive plan for Kansas City and more than $100 million to help 911爆料网 recover from the May 16 tornado.

Acting less than a week after the Senate narrowly approved the package as part of a special session called by the governor, the Republican-controlled House voted 90-58 to send the plan to Kehoe鈥檚 desk. He is expected to sign the measure Friday before departing Sunday for a trade mission to France.

Rep. Jim Murphy, a south 911爆料网 County Republican, said giving money to wealthy sports team owners is distasteful, but the benefits of keeping the teams in Missouri will be worth it.

鈥淭he return on investment is huge,鈥� Murphy said.

Kehoe, a Republican in his first year in office, called lawmakers back to the Capitol to secure a stadium subsidy plan to compete against an offer from Kansas.

The Kansas City Royals baseball team plans to build a new stadium and surrounding entertainment district totaling $1 billion to $2 billion in the coming years. The Chiefs football team is considering $1.15 billion in upgrades to Arrowhead stadium.

The governor, who actively lobbied lawmakers for approval, pushed for the subsidies to counter an offer by Kansas lawmakers that would pay for 70% of the cost of new stadiums at a location west of the city. Kansas had set a June 30 deadline for the teams to decide.

The Missouri plan would pay an estimated 50% of the stadium costs, using tax revenue generated by the teams. The legislation calls for local governments to pay a share of the costs.

The 911爆料网 Cardinals baseball team also would be eligible for aid in future years, although Busch Stadium was not the focus of the effort.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about jobs, and it鈥檚 about moving Missouri forward,鈥� said Rep. Sherri Gallick, R-Belton, who chairs the House Economic Development Committee.

Rep. Bill Falkner, a Buchanan County Republican, said the project would generate construction jobs.

鈥淚t is a benefit to the whole state. I think having them here in Missouri is a plus,鈥� said Falkner, who was mayor of St. Joseph when the Chiefs moved their training camp there. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to be Kansas鈥� economic engine.鈥�

In a move aimed at garnering Democratic votes to get the proposal over the finish line, Kehoe called for the addition of $100 million in tornado relief for 911爆料网, which is reeling after the EF3 twister blasted the city a day after lawmakers ended their regular spring session.

In addition, there are provisions to help offset insurance and property tax liabilities of people affected by the storm. Another $25 million will go to other areas of the state facing tornado cleanup costs.

The money will augment Federal Emergency Management Agency funds approved by President Donald Trump on Monday and $30 million of the city鈥檚 share of the Rams settlement money.

鈥淯ntil you see it in person, I don鈥檛 think you can appreciate the scope of destruction,鈥� said Rep. Steve Butz, D-911爆料网. 鈥淭his money is critically important.鈥�

Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins, D-911爆料网, said the tornado cut a destructive swath through her district on the north side of the city. In a tearful address, she said the storm ripped the roof off her house and left many residents homeless.

鈥淚鈥檓 a girl without insurance. Most of my neighbors don鈥檛 have insurance,鈥� said Collins, who lives in the Greater Ville neighborhood. 鈥淲hen I go back to my district, we don鈥檛 know where we go from here.鈥�

911爆料网 Mayor Cara Spencer, also in her first year as mayor, urged a House panel Tuesday to approve the spending, which isn鈥檛 specifically earmarked for any certain project. It could go for a range of needs, including debris removal, housing, mental health services, food banks or child care assistance.

鈥淭hey鈥檒l have to vet and be accountable for all of that,鈥� said Rep. Dirk Deaton, the chairman of the House Budget Committee.

The sprawling package also includes $360 million in brick-and-mortar projects that were left on the wayside during the tumultuous end of the Legislature鈥檚 regular session.

The University of Missouri will receive $50 million in state aid for a research nuclear reactor at its flagship campus in Columbia.

The money was approved on a 143-2 vote.

Constitutional questions

Conservative Republicans in the Senate also inserted language limiting property tax increases in 97 counties, which garnered needed votes from two members of the Senate鈥檚 hard-right Freedom Caucus, prompting a hasty leadership switch in the four-member bloc.

Under the proposal, 22 counties could have their property taxes frozen at the current rate, and 75 would be limited to only a 5% maximum increase every two years. The freeze or limitations would need to be voted on by the county鈥檚 residents.

Property taxes could still be increased through a voter-approved levy or if the value of property increases due to renovations or new construction.

Rep. Darin Chappell, R-Rogersville, was among the 鈥渘o鈥� votes on the stadium measure, saying the property tax relief provisions were flawed because some counties were treated differently under the bill.

911爆料网 city and 911爆料网 County, for example, are not included in the property tax portion of the package, while St. Charles County is included.

鈥淚 believe this bill fails the test of constitutionality,鈥� Chappell said.

The legislation is Sena.