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Missouri Republicans and Democrats view impact of tax cut bill differently

October 5, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

State Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield), the tax cut bill sponsor, testifies before the Missouri House Budget Committee in Jefferson City on September 28, 2022 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

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

September 22, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

State Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-Springfield) briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on September 21, 2022 (photo courtesy of Harrison Sweazea at Senate Communications)

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.

Missouri’s GOP governor and some legislative Democrats disagree on tax cut’s impact

August 30, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill visits with Missouri Governor Mike Parson at Columbia’s Clary-Shy community park on August 25, 2022 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City next week for a special session called by Governor Mike Parson (R). The governor wants the GOP-controlled Legislature to approve the largest tax cut in state history and to approve a six-year extension of farm tax credits.

The governor says Missouri has a record surplus, noting state general revenues are up 20 percent over last year and that sales and use tax money is up 13 percent. Missouri’s current state tax rate is 5.4 percent. It drops to 5.3 percent in January. Governor Parson is asking lawmakers to lower the state tax rate from 5.3 to 4.8 percent.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) says Parson’s tax cut plan is fiscally irresponsible. saying it would transform the temporary surplus into a permanent revenue loss. 939 the Eagle asked Governor Parson about Leader Quade’s concerns, during a recent Columbia visit. The governor says Quade’s comments are “political propaganda.”

“We’re funding programs at a higher level than anybody ever has on the state level. When we look at education, higher education, K-12, health care, infrastructure, workforce development, apprenticeships … at the highest levels ever. And we’ve run these numbers and we’re doing to be able to maintain all that,” Parson says.

Leader Quade also says the tax cut will primarily benefit the wealthy. The Missouri Democratic Party says the governor’s plan calls for a $6,000 tax cut to the top one percent, and a $100 tax cut for someone making less than $22,000.

Governor Parson views it differently, saying the tax cut is aimed at giving the people their money back. He says under his plan, every Missourian will earn their first $16,000 tax-free and married joint filers will earn their first $32,000 tax-free. Parson says the tax cut will benefit everyone, tells 939 the Eagle that Missouri will still be able to fund programs at their current level.

“We’re very positive about that. We’ve run the numbers on it. We believe we’re going to be able to sustain this for the long haul. So it’s going to be a great day for all Missourians no matter what class you’re in, no matter where you live. You’re going to get a tax break,” says Parson.

The special session will start on Tuesday September 6, which is the day after Labor Day. Governor Parson says a single bill will be filed in the Senate that includes the tax cut and farm tax credit extension. He hopes for quick passage. The Missouri House is expected to come in the following week.

The annual legislative veto session is Wednesday September 14 in Jefferson City.

Missouri’s special session to begin after Labor Day weekend

August 23, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor says there’s a path forward for the upcoming special session, which will begin on September 6 in Jefferson City. That’s the day after Labor Day. Governor Mike Parson (R) has met with state lawmakers and with commodity groups about the special session. “Today I believe we have that plan, which provides the largest …

(AUDIO) Missouri GOP Congressman Billy Long predicts Wyoming’s Liz Cheney will lose Tuesday’s primary

August 15, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming), who voted to impeach former President Donald Trump, is in a tough primary battle Tuesday against Harriett Hageman. U.S. Rep. Billy Long (R-Springfield), who represents southwest Missouri’s Ozarks on Capitol Hill, joined us live on “Wake Up Mid-Missouri.” Congressman Long’s wife is from Cheyenne, and he’s predicting that Hageman will …