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Missouri Digital News
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Missouri Digital News
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Missouri Digital News
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Missouri Digital News
A leading member of the effort trying to create a new sales tax to revitalize downtown St. Louis expressed surprise at Republican opposition.
Laetitia Thompson has the story from the state capitol.
Former U.S. Senator Jack Danforth says downtown St. Louis needs the sales tax to survive.
Danforth chairs the group that drafted the proposal and says voters affected by the bill would need to approve the tax hike.
But Republican senators voiced opposition leading Republican Senator Franc Flotron to suggest packaging the sales tax with airport legislation.
In a cell phone interview while driving back to St. Louis...Danforth said he was surprised by the Republican opposition.
From Jefferson City, I'm Laetitia Thompson.
A Republican lawmaker voiced concern over a proposal creating a sales tax to help revitalize downtown St. Louis despite strong support from some of the city's most influential members.
Laetitia Thompson has the story from the state capitol.
St. Louis Mayor Clarence Harmon and former U.S. senators Tom Eagleton and Jack Danforth gave strong support to the bill aiming to improve downtown St. Louis.
But St. Louis County Republican Senator Dave Klarich says the bill assumes that pouring money into the downtown area will attract growth.
Klarich says the bill contains too many unanswered problems such as the possibility of public money funding the remodeling of structures later sold into private ownership.
Klarich represents voters in St. Louis county who would shoulder two-thirds of the tax hike under the improvement bill.
From Jefferson City, I'm Laetitia Thompson.
Leading members of St. Louis supported a new sales tax created to rebuild downtown St. Louis.
Laetitia Thompson has the story from the state capitol.
Former U.S. Senators Tom Eagleton and Jack Danforth joined St. Louis mayor Clarence Harmon in strong support for the improvement bill.
Eagleton testified that the sales tax represents downtown's last chance for rebirth.
St. Louis County residents would provide two-thirds of the tax revenue with the city of St. Louis picking up the remainder.
Supporters says the tax could generate approximately $61 million a year for spaces like sidewalks and parking.
From Jefferson City, I'm Laetitia Thompson.