Nixon meets with Richard about trade options

Gov. Jay Nixon and Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard met for about 20 minutes Tuesday afternoon, in Richard’s third floor Capitol office.

“As most folks know, Ron and I have a long history of working together on a number of issues, on economic development and the budget and other things like that,” Nixon told the News Tribune as he left Richard’s office. “We’ve always been able to work things out.”

Richard, R-Joplin, said economic development was the topic.

“Trade missions overseas, and he wanted to know if I was, possibly, interested,” he said. “That’s about all it was.”

Richard said Nixon thinks there are some opportunities for business in Missouri. “He’s pretty confident, and wanted to know if I would be able to help,” the speaker continued. “I said, ‘We’ll see.’”

Republican legislative leaders have complained for several years Nixon mostly has been unavailable to talk about issues as they go through the Legislature.

“I try to stay in regular contact with my good friends in the Senate, and we’re working together to get things done,” the governor said.

With 4½ weeks to go before the session must end May 13, Nixon said he wants to make sure lawmakers pass a final budget, “especially when you look over to Illinois and they can’t get their budget done — that becomes important to do.”

The governor said he still has priorities he wants to see accomplished, but mentioned only one of those: online sports websites.

“I’d like to get something done on this FanDuels and DraftKings … stuff,” the governor said. “Getting some level of consumer protection, I think, is important, with the amount of money going on.

“And we’re having some productive discussions on that.”

Nixon urged lawmakers to add those regulations during his January State of the State address, and some bills were introduced in the Legislature this year.

So far, none has made it through both chambers.