LEGISLATIVE UPDATE as of March 17th – By Mary Anne McCollum
Before legislators headed out for their spring break March 18th, the House Budget Committee wrapped up work on the 13 appropriations bills.
Good news: The current version of House Committee Substitute HB 7 (Economic Development – Film Office) now has $200,000 as a line item for the Film Office. (The original budget proposed by the Governor contained zero funding).
When they return to work March 28, the bills will begin to be debated on the House floor. This next week presents a great opportunity for you to reach out to your state representative and meet with them in person to discuss why they should vote to keep funding in HCS HB 7 for the Film Office. If you cannot meet with them in person, please call and let them know of your support for the Film Office.
Please remember: Contact only your state representative since the full House will be voting on the budget bills when they return to Jefferson City next week. (Film tax credits are another issue and not part of this discussion.)
If you need to look up your state representative : You can find this information at http://www.mo.gov, click “My Government,” then “Elected Officials.” You will need to know your zip+4 to use the mo.gov site.
(Don’t know your zip+4? Go to: http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/ to find it.)
Once the House has completed their work on the budget in early April, the process begins again in the Senate. Work on the budget must be completed no later than Friday, May 6.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR STATE REP at this time. We will alert you when you need to contact your state senator.
