Republican senators and Gov. Jay Nixon have sparred regularly the last few years about how to grow Missouri's economy. Now they're sparring over whom to put in charge of the effort.

Senate leaders are poised this week to sink Nixon's nomination of St. Louis attorney Jason Hall to lead the Department of Economic Development, claiming the 36-year-old lacks the experience necessary for the job.

The Senate committee that approves nominations declined to take up Hall's on Wednesday. And if they don't by week's end, not only will his nomination expire, but Hall will be barred for life from holding the post.

Senate President Pro Tem Robert Mayer, R-Dexter, said today he has no plans to approve Hall this week, and people familiar with the talks said his nomination is basically dead.

But there was no official word from Nixon's office, which put out a statement saying Hall is "highly qualified." Hall himself did not return messages seeking comment.

The son of a Granite City steelworker and founder of a group for gay lawyers in St. Louis, Hall was an attorney at Bryan Cave before Nixon tapped him to lead the quasi-governmental Missouri Technology Corp. in 2009.

In December, Nixon picked Hall to replace outgoing DED director David Kerr, calling him "exactly the type of bright, energetic leader we need to help create jobs and move Missouri's economy forward."

But Hall's nomination came on the eve of an election year, on the heels of a legislative special session where lawmakers couldn't agree on job-creation tools, and amid probes into the department's handling of a sweetener plant deal that collapsed in Moberly last fall.

All those factors likely played a role in Senate opposition to Hall, said Dan Mehan, president of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"This appointment became that much more critical and focused on," Mehan said. "It was going to get attention because there is this opinion out there, rightly or wrongly, that [DED] needs to be fixed."

Mehan is one of several business leaders who've said they support Hall's nomination. He called Hall well-qualified, and pointed out that Missouri has had many officials - from both parties - who served in top roles while in their 30's.

"[Hall's] a quality guy and would be a great benefit to the state," Mehan said.

Mayer sees it differently. Talking to reporters in Jefferson City today, he noted the nominee has "very little experience in private industry or business."

"Most senators believe he's a bright, articulate young man," Mayer said. "But at this stage in his life, I don't think he's ready to take on the position of the Department of Economic Development."