JEFFERSON CITY - The Interim Committee on Budgetary Transparency said changes in Missouri tax credit reform would not be as beneficial as Gov. Jay Nixon assumes.

The recommendations from the Missouri Tax Credit Review Commission in November said the previous $140 million dollars for the Historic Preservation Tax Credit should be slashed to almost half at $75 million dollars for the fiscal year 2011.

Incoming House Speaker Steve Tilley supports tax credits for low income housing and the historic preservation. "The Department of Economic Development testified in committee saying they (tax credits) have a net positive impact on the state," Tilley said.

The chances the legislature would even pass a tax credit cut were described by Tilley as, "very unlikely."

However, talk of tax credits were not the only words that Tilley announced during the meeting.

Tilley said the house caucus along with himself have been thinking of ways to, "change the dynamic of the way things operate in Jeff City," as far as rules on accepting gifts from lobbyists.

The incoming House Speaker said he has tried in the last session to create a measure to prevent this, but it did not go anywhere.

Tilley said the problem with sponsoring a bill like this is that there has to be support.  According to Tilley, the lack of support comes from a big group of Senators that, "do not want to eliminate the way business is run." 

Tilley announced he would not accept any campaign contributions while legislative session is going on.

On Dec. 10, Tilley's campaign committee announced his future plans to run for Lieutenant Governor, but he said he would return a check if it was written to him during spring session.

"I don't want to focus on fund-raising, that I personally want to focus on moving this state in a positive session," said Tilley.

Referencing a time when Tilley entered the House as a freshman, he admits to accepting lobbyist gifts.

It was from his parents advice and blogs written about him that changed his opinion on how he wanted to be viewed as a House member.

Tilley said he doesn't know a single member in his caucus that has or would ever switch a vote based off a gift or a donation, but Tilley said, "the perception isn't the best," referring to House members accepting gifts.

Strongly encouraging freshman members is what Tilley said he plans on doing to change this perception.