In the wake of Gov. Eric Greitens' calling for a special session to revisit legislation aimed at bringing jobs to the Bootheel, many area residents are traveling to the state capitol today to show support for the hundreds of jobs on the line.
Folks from Van Buren, Poplar Bluff and Silva met this morning at the Black River Coliseum to board a bus at 10 a.m. that would take them to Jefferson City so they could voice their opinions.
"They need to bring jobs back here and other than the governor, who else is trying," Poplar Bluff resident David Thornton said.
The legislation being referred to is Rep. Don Rone's house amendment No. 1, which grants the Public Service Commission the authority to negotiate with Ameren to garner lower utility rates, which would allow the former Noranda facility and a new steel manufacturer in New Madrid to open.
Originally attached to Senate Bill 302, it passed in the house 148-2 on May 3, but through the efforts of Sen. Doug Libla (R-Poplar Bluff) and his cronies, Sen. Rob Schaaf (R-St. Joseph) and Sen. Gary Romine (R-Farmington), never made it to a vote in the Senate. Libla said he thinks the legislation will weaken the PSC's scope of authority, which will eventually cause a rate increase in the area.
"I looked at the legislation and I'm not buying it," Thornton said. "Realistically, in looking at the legislation, he's (Libla) doing what he's doing because he's in control and he's trying to show the governor who's in control."
After SB 302 died in the Senate, Rone (R-Portageville) asked his fellow House members to attach his amendment to SB 124 and was successful, however SB 124 didn't make it to the Senate before it adjourned for the end of session.
Thornton said thankfully we have a governor who isn't afraid to speak up on behalf of the people.
Greitens' called Libla out on his actions Thursday when he announced the special session because he said "a couple of career politicians, for their own political reasons, decided to block efforts to bring a steel mill and hundreds of jobs to Southeast Missouri when they decided to serve themselves rather than the people of the state of Missouri."
Ryan Gillespie, also of Poplar Bluff, said he is going to Jefferson City because he said the proposed legislation needs to be in place.
"This is something important that's going to bring jobs to the area. It's going to bring money to the area and hopefully get the communities back to how they used to be," Gillespie said.
In response to Libla's rate-increase claims, Gillespie said outweighing the differences is key.
"My personal opinion, now I'm not a mathematician or anything, but I see it coming out better for everyone than worse. People who don't have jobs now will have jobs and be able to support their families and that's the important thing."
Michael and Sue Henry, along with their grandson Jacob Pennington, traveled to Poplar Bluff from Silva, and are expecting a long day, but said they enjoy showing support for the governor whenever they get a chance.
"Anytime you can support someone that can bring money into an area, through wages and improvements, it's for the better," Michael Henry said. "We just want to find out exactly what's going on and how we can be supportive and we'll go from there."
In an article by St. Louis Public Radio, Warren Wood, vice-president of external affairs and communications for Ameren said that he doesn't think a rate increase will occur.
"Ideally, when a new large industrial customer comes onto the electric system it results in more total energy load which could reduce rates for other customers,' Wood said in the article.
"We support the re-opening of the aluminum smelter and the potential opening of a new steel smelter in Southeast Missouri," Wood said. "If these companies are able to be successful they would provide an enormous economic development and jobs benefit to the state."