By AP/St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City, Mo – Daily living expenses and mileage reimbursement for Missouri's 197 lawmakers made up the bulk of the cost of the recently completed special session of the General Assembly.
The session cost taxpayers more than $120,000, and that does not include the money spent by Gov. Jay Nixon to travel the state promoting the legislation and signing the final product. Lawmakers approved measures that give manufacturers payroll tax breaks for capital upgrades that generate new jobs - it's targeted to keep the Ford plant near Kansas City open. The changes to the state's pension systems are designed to offset the $150 million price tag.
Leaders tried to control special session costs by limiting full House and Senate sessions to days when they expected votes.