The Missouri Senate spent most of its last afternoon of the session embroiled in economic issues, largely because of a threatened filibuster unless it dealt with incentives to persuade Ford Motor Co. to retain its plant in suburban Kansas City.

In the end, no deal was struck and no incentives were approved.
 
State Sen. Luann Ridgeway, R-Smithville, had threatened to block any other legislation unless the Senate approved $15 million in economic incentives, $8 million of it which would be used for Ford.

"I really believe that Ford has entered into a good faith effort," she said.

But her threat ignited a counter-filibuster by Sens. Chuck Purgason, R-Caulfield, and Jim Lembke (left), R-Mehlville, putting the outcome in limbo. (Lembke read a selection from "The Law" by Frederic Bastiat.)

With the 6 p.m. deadline looming, Senate leaders persuaded Ridgeway to back off of her threat while behind-the-scenes talked continued. But they failed.

Her proposal had been added to a bill by Sen. Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles. He promised to put the bill on hold while the negotiations continued, if the amendment passed.

Rideway swiftly ran in strong opposition from the anti-tax credit contingent of the Senate, headed by Sen. Matt Bartle, R-Lee's Summit.

"I think it's insanity," Bartel said loudly. "I think it's a stickup."

"We'd be far more honest with the taxpayers if we paid Ford in hard cold cash, paid it out in 100 dollar bills," he said.

Bartel called for Missouri to become an example for the rest of the country, by clamping down on corporate tax incentives and, instead, eliminate corporate taxes. 

With tax credits, said Sen. Jack Goodman, R-Mount Vernon, "What we're doing today is picking winners and losers." 

The debate had an attentive audience outside the chamber, where business leaders and lobbyists congregated in the hallway awaiting Senate action on some sort of economic and jobs package.

Earlier in the day, Missouri Chamber of Commerce chief Dan Mehan said the Senate and House still had time to put together and pass an economics bill.

"There's a lot that could happen in a positive way," Mehan said.

(Jo Mannies, Beacon political reporter, contributed to this article.)