Clint Zweifel
Kinder Casts Lone Vote Against Property Tax Relief For New Homeowners
At this morning's Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) meeting, Lt. Governor Peter Kinder cast the only vote against a proposal to pay the first year of property taxes for working families making less than $98,000 a year who purchase a new or existing Missouri home next year. The grants will be for owner-occupied purchases only.
The plan, which is expected to help 9,000-11,000 Missouri families using $15 million in MHDC reserve funds, passed by a 7-1 vote.
Qualified individuals and families will be eligible to receive $1,250 or the amount of their first year's real estate tax bill, whichever is highest, when they purchase a new or existing residential home. An income-qualified individual or family can enhance this base amount, up to $1,750, if they purchase an energy-efficient new home or make energy efficient improvements to an existing home that is purchased.
Read More »Zweifel pushes ethics reform at MHDC
Today, Treasurer Clint Zweifel called for a series of reforms to remove conflicts of interest for members of the Missouri Housing Development Commission.
Zweifel plans to present his full proposed ethics policies to a commission subcommittee on July 7. Zweifel said a strengthened standards of conduct policy would include meaningful and enforceable rules, including
- Commissioners and staff should have no personal financial relationships with anyone receiving benefits from MHDC. If that were the case, the commissioner or staff member should notify the entire commission in public meeting prior to any discussion and then recuse himself or herself from any vote at a minimum. Read More »
Zweifel champions sunshine by announcing MHDC Investigation
No law required him to do it. Many won't be happy he did it. But new State Treasurer Clint Zweifel has again taken the high road of public openness--- this time by publicly announcing a federal investigation of the Missouri Housing Development Commission.
Here is an excerpt of Columbia Tribune coverage by veteran reporter Terry Ganey:
Pete Ramsel, the chief staff member of the state’s low-income housing program, said yesterday he was questioned a year ago by FBI agents inquiring into the operations of the Missouri Housing Development Commission.
Ramsel, the commission’s executive director, said he did not want to discuss the nature of his interview with federal agents, citing a request by the FBI that he keep the information confidential. “I know there is an FBI investigation going on,” he told The Associated Press.
Ramsel said he was only disclosing it now because state Treasurer Clint Zweifel had made it public. Zweifel is the new chairman of the commission, which awards developers millions of dollars in tax credits a year to create housing for the poor and elderly.
Read More »
St. Patty's Day Wrap-Up
- Outrage with AIG is overflowing. Russ Carnahan and others are pushing legislation to recoup bonuses from bailout firms. [Post-Dispatch] [CNN][CQ]
- Treasurer Zweifel struck a deal with bankers to increase the interest rate banks pay for state time deposits. Under the agreement, banks would gradually phase in the payment of competitive interest rates for state deposits. At the same time, the state’s linked deposit program, which loans money through local banks at low interest to small businesses, will grow to serve companies of 100 or fewer employees. [Daily Tribune]
- According to the NY Times, MO wins the ready & rearing shovel award for making the 1st stimulus project in the nation happen but is only 18th in terms of sway in Congress [NY Times] [Beacon] [Roll Call]
- The PD slammed the GOP leadership (again) for putting ideology before families (again). "You might expect that staggering growth to inspire a sense of urgency in Jefferson City. Instead, state legislators spent the past weeks spewing hopelessly out-of-touch political rhetoric." [Post-Dispatch]
