House Committee considers slimmed-down China Hub proposal

Intro:	The proposal for a China trade hub at Lambert International airport was a non-starter for the Missouri legislature in years past, but now a slimmed down version of the measure is back at the statehouse.
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Wrap: The idea behind the failed China hub proposal is back and in front of a House committee.

It's a smaller proposal now, creating 60 million dollars in tax credits instead of the original 360 to companies shipping air cargo internationally.

In the past, the proposal had fierce opposition from lawmakers looking to slash tax credits.

But this year, Missouri Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan says he thinks the slimmed-down proposal will pass.

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Description: "We're fairly confident this year, we've seen leadership in the Senate and the House really determined to move things this year."

The House committee did not vote on the measure, but a Senate committee passed a similar version last week.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Evans. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	The proposal to make Lambert an international trade hub is back at the Missouri statehouse. A pair of bills are moving through the Legislature and a House committee heard one version on Tuesday.
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Wrap: It's a smaller proposal now, creating $60 million in tax credits to be used over the next 8 years for companies shipping cargo internationally.

The original proposal created $360 million in tax credits and included credits for companies to build warehouses and was met with strong opposition from lawmakers looking to slash tax credits.

Missouri Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan says the credits would only be tapped if results are seen.

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Description: "It only exists, it only gets activated when exports are off the runway at Lambert going to destinations around the globe."

The House committee did not vote on the measure, but a Senate committee passed a similar version last week.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Evans. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	The idea behind the failed "China hub" proposal is making its way through the Missouri statehouse again.
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Wrap: A House committee heard the slimmed-down proposal to make Lambert airport an international trade hub. The measure would create $60 million in tax credits - 300 million less than the original proposal - to companies shipping cargo internationally.

Keith Calhoun is the Emerson Electric Lebanon plant manager and says it would save Missouri companies time and money to have a trade hub in St. Louis.

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Description: "We're on I-44, two and a half hours away from the airport and today that air freight goes out of Chicago, why can't it go out of St. Louis, Missouri?"

The House committee did not vote on the measure, but a Senate committee passed a similar version last week.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Matt Evans. Newsradio 1120 KMOX.