Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R) has appointed former State Sen. Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby) and former St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay (D) to the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission. Both men will need to be confirmed by the Missouri Senate by the end of January. Hegeman served as the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee chair for several years and fought for funding for rural roads during that time. He joined us live this morning on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” from the Governor’s Prayer Breakfast at Jefferson City’s Capitol Plaza Hotel, where he discussed the appointment, the importance of rural road funding and Missouri’s $2.8 billion plan to expand and rebuild I-70 across Missouri:
Missouri Republicans and Democrats view impact of tax cut bill differently
The largest tax cut in Missouri history will be signed into law Wednesday morning by Governor Mike Parson in Jefferson City.
It’s been a top priority of the special session call from the GOP governor, who says the General Assembly has answered his call to cut Missourians’ taxes and return some of their hard-earned dollars.
House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) warns the tax cut will blow a $2-billion hole in the state budget, once fully implemented. 939 the Eagle News interviewed Governor Parson Tuesday at a statewide education conference in Columbia. We asked him about Leader Quade’s concerns.
“Crystal Quade is just more in the political scenario there. And it’s unfortunate because you’re really getting to help people (with the tax cut). And we’ll have statistics on that, but you’re getting to help everyday people here. It was unfortunate, some of the political tactics used but it’s just the arena you’re in sometimes,” Parson says.
The GOP state senator who sponsored the tax cut bill says it will help everyone. State Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield), the Senate Appropriations Committee vice chairman, says it will help low-income and high-income earners and will keep main streets open.
Leader Quade sees it differently, saying the Missouri Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Children’s Division employees are underpaid and overworked. Quade says one DSS employee sells his plasma to pay the bills.
As for Governor Parson, he tells 939 the Eagle that the tax cut will provide real relief to you and all other taxpaying Missourians.
“But I’m going to tell you this: people are going to have more money in their pocket when I sign that bill. And that’s the good news for Missourians,” Parson says.
Governor Parson says that extra money will help Missouri families purchase groceries and gasoline and deal with inflation. State Rep. Peter Merideth (D-St. Louis), the House Budget Committee’s ranking Democrat, says the tax cut will benefit the rich.
Representative Merideth says the top one percent of Missouri earners will save $15,000 per year under the plan.
Tax cut legislation heading to the Missouri House; House Democrats warn about budget impact
The Missouri Senate has given final approval to an approximately $1-billion state tax cut.
Wednesday’s vote was 24-4, sending the bill to the House for consideration. State Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) voted for the bill, saying Missouri has had record revenue growth.
“When we see those numbers, it’s my belief and I think a lot of the other Republicans up here, that we want to provide tax relief to the folks back at home,” Hough says.
Hough, the Senate Appropriations Committee vice chair, joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” The bill also eliminates Missouri’s lowest tax bracket, meaning earners with less than $1,000 annually would no longer have to pay state income taxes.
Senator Hough, who will chair the powerful Appropriations Committee in January, tells listeners that the tax cut would help everyone.
“This helps low-income earners, high-income earners, small businesses that employ all of our friends and neighbors and keep our main streets open,” says Hough.
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) blasts the bill, saying it will blow a $2-billion hole in the state budget once fully implemented.
“That’s nearly triple what the governor originally claimed his election year tax giveaway for the rich would cost,” Leader Quade tweeted on Wednesday. She says Children’s Division employees at the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) are underpaid and overworked, adding that one DSS employee sells his plasma to pay the bills.
Governor Mike Parson (R) has tweeted that he’s confident the Legislature will approve an income tax cut package.
Both chambers have approved identical farm bills, which extend agricultural tax credits for six years. Governor Parson describes those votes as a huge win for agriculture. The tax credit extension has been a top priority for Missouri’s commodity groups, including the Missouri Farm Bureau and the Columbia-based Missouri Pork Association.
Bernskoetter hopeful on special session and on Missouri Senate leadership race
Legislation that would have sent $325 checks to Missourians with an income under $150,000 has been removed by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Senate could debate the combined new bills on Tuesday, and amendments will likely be offered on the Senate floor.
State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City), who chairs the Senate Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee, tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that he’s optimistic a tax cut bill will pass.
“I don’t know that it’s going to look like what the governor called for. But I think we will agree that the state of Missouri has a lot of money right now, and the people know how spend it better than we do,” Bernskoetter says.
Bernskoetter also tells listeners that House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) wants to rewrite the entire tax code.
Senator Bernskoetter is also optimistic that he’ll be the next Senate Majority Leader, which is the number two position in the chamber.
“There’s me and (State) Senator (Andrew) Koenig and (State) Senator (Cindy) O’Laughlin are running for Floor Leader. Things are looking good on my end,” says Bernskoetter.
Missouri’s current Senate Majority Leader is State Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia), who’s running for Senate President Pro Tem. Bernskoetter predicts Rowden will win that race.
(AUDIO): State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) discusses special session on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri”
The Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee held hearings on 13 different bills today relating to the special session. They primarily involve state income taxes and agriculture, the two components of Governor Mike Parson’s special session call. State Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-Jefferson City) joined us live on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” this morning, telling listeners that he believes a bill will pass: