Iran-Boeing passenger plane deal plays a role in Missouri state treasurer's race

Political friction over the Iran nuclear deal has filtered down to the race for Missouri treasurer, with Republican Eric Schmitt and Democrat Judy Baker at odds over how far the state should go in restricting financial ties to the Mideast nation.

Whether Boeing Co.’s agreement to build 80 passenger planes for Iran should spur the state to block tax credits for the firm is among various issues in the down-ballot Nov. 8 election contest.

Schmitt, a state senator from Glendale, says Boeing should be barred from getting up to $229 million in tax credits pledged previously by the state if it maintains and expands employment in Missouri.

“I don’t think any taxpayer dollars should go to any company that does business with Iran,” Schmitt says, noting that the country remains on a State Department list of terrorism-sponsoring nations despite the lifting of some international sanctions.

Baker, a former state representative from Columbia, opposes ending the state tax credit package for Boeing, saying that such a move could kill Missouri jobs.

She said she supported a longstanding policy in the treasurer’s office that prohibits investing state money in terrorism-related nations.

But when a U.S. company sells planes to Iran, she said, “we’re not giving money to Iran, money is coming to us.” Moreover, she said, yanking tax credits after they’re awarded sends a message to companies in general that the state’s business climate is unstable.

The treasurer’s office doesn’t oversee the Boeing tax credit package but is in charge of some investment of state dollars.

Also in the race are Libertarian nominee Sean O’Toole of Kansas City and Green Party candidate Carol Hexem of St. Louis County. Democratic incumbent Clint Zweifel is barred by state law from seeking a third four-year term.

Schmitt, 41, a lawyer, and Baker, 56, a former health care administrator and college economics teacher, both cite their experience.

Schmitt, a senator since 2009, had a key role restricting municipal court fines and mandating cuts in the state income tax when state revenue reaches a certain level.

He also sponsored a new law giving families the ability to open a tax-exempt savings account for expenses related to a disability — a program overseen by the treasurer’s office.

He also cites his chairing a Senate panel on economic development. “Running for state treasurer is an extension of that service,” said Schmitt, who got started in elective office as a Glendale alderman.

Baker, during her 2005-2008 House tenure, also was an active lawmaker. She tried unsuccessfully to get the GOP-run Legislature to do things such as keep carbonated beverages out of school vending machines and bar younger teen drivers from using cellphones.

She worked with a state agency to offer online drivers education for teens after her bill didn’t pass. She laid groundwork for requiring physical education in schools, which passed the year after she left the Legislature to run for Congress — a race she narrowly lost in 2008.

While in the House, she said, she started a bipartisan caucus on economic problems keeping people in poverty. She said she would bring to the treasurer’s office the same focus on helping lower-income working families.

“Most people have jobs, some have two, some have three, and still can’t make ends meet,” she said at a campaign stop last week at Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis.

She plans a statewide program — perhaps jointly funded by the state and private entities — to open a $50 bank account for every kindergartner, regardless of family income. The program would be paired with a financial literacy education effort for elementary and high school students.

Political friction over the Iran nuclear deal has filtered down to the race for Missouri treasurer, with Republican Eric Schmitt and Democrat Judy Baker at odds over how far the state should go in restricting financial ties to the Mideast nation.

Whether Boeing Co.’s agreement to build 80 passenger planes for Iran should spur the state to block tax credits for the firm is among various issues in the down-ballot Nov. 8 election contest.

Schmitt, a state senator from Glendale, says Boeing should be barred from getting up to $229 million in tax credits pledged previously by the state if it maintains and expands employment in Missouri.

“I don’t think any taxpayer dollars should go to any company that does business with Iran,” Schmitt says, noting that the country remains on a State Department list of terrorism-sponsoring nations despite the lifting of some international sanctions.

Baker, a former state representative from Columbia, opposes ending the state tax credit package for Boeing, saying that such a move could kill Missouri jobs.

She said she supported a longstanding policy in the treasurer’s office that prohibits investing state money in terrorism-related nations.

But when a U.S. company sells planes to Iran, she said, “we’re not giving money to Iran, money is coming to us.” Moreover, she said, yanking tax credits after they’re awarded sends a message to companies in general that the state’s business climate is unstable.

The treasurer’s office doesn’t oversee the Boeing tax credit package but is in charge of some investment of state dollars.

Also in the race are Libertarian nominee Sean O’Toole of Kansas City and Green Party candidate Carol Hexem of St. Louis County. Democratic incumbent Clint Zweifel is barred by state law from seeking a third four-year term.

Schmitt, 41, a lawyer, and Baker, 56, a former health care administrator and college economics teacher, both cite their experience.

Schmitt, a senator since 2009, had a key role restricting municipal court fines and mandating cuts in the state income tax when state revenue reaches a certain level.

He also sponsored a new law giving families the ability to open a tax-exempt savings account for expenses related to a disability — a program overseen by the treasurer’s office.

He also cites his chairing a Senate panel on economic development. “Running for state treasurer is an extension of that service,” said Schmitt, who got started in elective office as a Glendale alderman.

Baker, during her 2005-2008 House tenure, also was an active lawmaker. She tried unsuccessfully to get the GOP-run Legislature to do things such as keep carbonated beverages out of school vending machines and bar younger teen drivers from using cellphones.

She worked with a state agency to offer online drivers education for teens after her bill didn’t pass. She laid groundwork for requiring physical education in schools, which passed the year after she left the Legislature to run for Congress — a race she narrowly lost in 2008.

While in the House, she said, she started a bipartisan caucus on economic problems keeping people in poverty. She said she would bring to the treasurer’s office the same focus on helping lower-income working families.

“Most people have jobs, some have two, some have three, and still can’t make ends meet,” she said at a campaign stop last week at Greater Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis.

She plans a statewide program — perhaps jointly funded by the state and private entities — to open a $50 bank account for every kindergartner, regardless of family income. The program would be paired with a financial literacy education effort for elementary and high school students.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/iran-boeing-passenger-plane-deal-plays-a-role-in-missouri/article_d97dbc8c-25b9-5495-9a14-6ce0718616d0.html