JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signaled a special session is likely as he reflected on the end of the legislative session during a Friday morning news conference in his office.

The first question at the conference was asked by Nexstar Missouri to gauge the governor’s plan to hold an extra session, with the unfinished item of state assistance for funding a new stadium for the Royals as well as funding for significant upgrades to Arrowhead, the home of the Kansas City Chiefs, still up in the air.

“This is a huge economic development package,” he replied. 

“We haven’t decided on a date yet,” said Kehoe. “I’m one of those people that like to work with leadership, both the House and Senate.”

When pressed on when a special session could occur, he hinted sooner than later.

“No date will be easy,” Gov. Kehoe said. “But that is a critical piece of economic development and I’d like to see us make sure we can solidify our offer with legislator approval.” 

Kehoe mentioned a June 30 deadline regarding Missouri having a framework in place.

Kehoe also acknowledged the unceremonious ending to what he said was a successful legislative session.

“I’ve been in this building a long time and the last several years have been bumpy, and people have left in a lot worse mood than they did this week,” Kehoe said. “This session, overall, should not be defined by the last two weeks. This session should be defined as 19 weeks.”

And while many lawmakers left the Capitol with mixed feelings about how things turned from friendly to frictionary in a matter of days, Kehoe still offered the Legislature praise.

“I really believe we made some great progress and I’m really proud of what the House and Senate and both sides of the aisle where on some critical legislation they came together, negotiated out a compromise and put something forward.”

Kehoe stood by his fellow Republicans as they attempted to undue two ballot questions that voters approved in November. One measure regarding abortion will head back to voters, but the other bill that strips away provisions of a paid sick leave ballot initiative will go into law if Kehoe signs it, which he has stated his intentions to do so.

“This is a huge issue to both small and large business and economic developers,” he said.  

“I do not think that we should allow, in this case, a very liberal group from the East Coast of our country to come in and spend millions of dollars to put a question on the ballot that has nothing to do with the input of individually, privately owned businesses.”

He also took time to remember former Missouri governor Kit Bond, who died Tuesday at the age of 86.

“Kit was the definition of a statesman,” Kehoe said. “’I’m blessed to have known Kit and honored to have called him a friend and a mentor, as I think hundreds, maybe thousands of Missourians  share the same sentiment.”

Kehoe went on to share Bond’s favorite job.

“Governor Bond held several titles, including United States senator,” he said. “vBut he always said to me  whenever I asked him what to call him, he said ‘You know, governor was the best title I ever had.”