May 17, 2019 – The state’s oldest business association is celebrating a successful legislative session, thanks to Governor Mike Parson and leadership of the Missouri House and Senate.
“The business community and Missourians as a whole clearly are the beneficiaries of the leadership shown by Governor Parson in advocating for policies to advance workforce, educational, and infrastructure achievements and litigation reform during this legislative session,” said Jerry M. Hunter, partner in Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Associated Industries of Missouri. “Governor Parson’s inclusive leadership style resulted in support for the Governor’s priorities during this Legislative Session from both sides of the aisle.” Jerry M. Hunter, Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and Chairman of the AIM Board
“Much was accomplished this session,” said Ray McCarty, president and CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM). “This legislative session we accomplished legal reforms that will help return Missouri courts to Missouri citizens and ensure fair evaluation of claims alleging safety defects, wide-ranging economic development legislation, and prevention of tax increases on Missouri businesses,” he said. Ray McCarty, president/CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri
The legislative session produced bills establishing the proper venue for tort cases, rules determining when parties may be properly joined as defendants, and the venue implications of releasing a previously joined party from a case. Another important legal reform bill allows evidence of seat belt usage to be admissible and eliminates an artificial one percent award reduction in product liability cases when a plaintiff alleges a vehicle did not have adequate protections.
A strong economic development package, passed at the urging of Governor Mike Parson, includes tax credits for automotive manufacturing infrastructure investments, training grants and revisions to current job training programs. New authority allowing the Missouri Department of Economic Development to write checks in advance in lieu of tax credits that would otherwise be awarded over time was also granted.
“Associated Industries of Missouri looks forward to our state leaders using these new programs to stimulate investment and education of our workforce in Missouri which will only enhance Missouri’s position as a leading state for business and get us one step closer to becoming the best in the Midwest,” said McCarty.
AIM also worked hard against and successfully defeated a misguided new tax on HMO plans and attempts to overturn the “motivating factor” standard in discrimination cases.
Associated Industries of Missouri is celebrating 100 years of serving as the “Voice of Missouri Business” ®. AIM is the oldest general business trade association representing Missouri employers and was influential in writing the state’s first workers’ compensation, unemployment, environmental and tax laws and continues in that role today.
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