A tool to give tax breaks to smaller businesses that create certain kinds of Missouri jobs was signed into law today in Kansas City.
The ceremony at the UMKC Henry Block Business School was designed to showcase bipartisanship.
Governor Jay Nixon’s signing of the House Bill was witnessed by two Democrats and one Republican Representative. They included GOP sponsor Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg and Democrats Judy Morgan and Gail McCann Beatty of Kansas City.
The jobs measure would target businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Nixon said the “legislation provides a $10,000 tax deduction for small business owners for each new qualifying job they create and $20,000 deduction if that new job offers health coverage and the employer pays a least 50 percent of the premiums.”
Nixon said to ensure the measure spurs the economy, the tax breaks will only be available the next two years.
In the room with politicians and educators was a cluster of school age girls taking part in a summer camp program teaching roles of women in politics. The course “Madame President” is directed by the head of the UMKC Civic Engagement Program, Julie Warm.