Over the last month and a half, the governor has traveled the state to justify the massive withholdings and vetoes he inflicted on the FY 2015 budget passed by the General Assembly. Among those cuts were huge funding decreases in K-12, higher education, mental health, and numerous other programs heavily relied upon by Missourians.

His rationalization? The governor claims the spending plan approved by elected officials was not balanced, and our state faces severe revenue shortfalls because of economic development measures we passed. The governor’s argument is exceedingly weak and not supported by the facts.

As one of the senators who supported the state spending plan, and many of the measures he mentions daily as he aggressively tries to work people up over the budget, it’s frustrating to see many facts left out of his “assessment” of our budget and the Legislature’s tireless efforts to revitalize a state economy that is lagging nationally in growth and expansion.

First, the revenue consensus estimate put forth by the governor this year was substantially higher than the one eventually used by the Legislature. We opted for a more conservative approach based on the limited growth we’d seen the previous year.

If we’d actually budgeted based on the governor’s projection, the cuts he’s currently blaming on the General Assembly would have been far deeper. While both branches missed the mark, the governor conveniently fails to mention our budget would be far, far worse, about $300 million worse, had we listened to his recommendations. This is conveniently omitted.

He then continues to blame the withholdings on legislation approved by the Legislature during the 2014 session, including Senate Bill 509, a broad-based tax relief measure aimed at alleviating the tax burden on every person and business in the state. But, that bill was comparatively conservative and had built in safety-net provisions preventing any reduction from taking place unless revenue collections increase. They haven’t yet, which means the bill’s cuts wouldn’t have even taken effect.

The truth is that the governor has failed to implement any kind of major effort at revitalizing our economy in years. The tax reduction bill was an attempt at rectifying that inaction. Countless studies have shown a direct correlation between reducing the tax burden on individuals and companies and increased economic growth.

We have empirical evidence this approach works at boosting job creation and encouraging public spending. Every dollar we return to constituents cycles through a local economy around seven times. That’s more revenue for both local and state government.

Even the governor tacitly admitted as much last December, when he pushed for “must pass” massive tax breaks to lure an aeronautical manufacturer to Missouri. The only difference then was that he wanted to give those reductions to one special interest company, instead of every citizen and the thousands of small businesses in the state.

The bottom line is that we’ve been following the same economic development policies for the last six years, and we keep seeing the same results. Revenue collections are falling. Job creation is anemic. Companies aren’t expanding. The number one question I’m asked when I visit with my constituents is, Where’s the growth? Where are the jobs? Where’s the recovery everyone keeps discussing?

It’s happening in other states, where elected officials are using historically proven approaches to reduce the burden on individuals and companies. Senate Bill 509 was an attempt to do the same, to jump-start an economy that is lagging behind those of our neighbors and other states across the country. We need to change course. If we continue with the same flawed policies, we’re going to get the same flawed results.

Most Missourians have to live on a fixed amount of income each week.  With the cost of food, utilities, gas, and other necessities increasing it puts a huge strain on poor and middle class families.  To correct this we need to return to conservative economic principles by promoting genuine and stable job creation which will expand opportunities for sustained economic growth and bring back the Missouri economy.  We can accomplish this by allowing the private sector to invest and grow which in turn will promote job growth.  This is the only viable recipe for promoting jobs for Missouri’s middle class.  This is economic reality.

Instead of falsely criticizing the General Assembly’s attempts at fixing our state’s economy, I would like to see the governor partner with legislators—during session, not after the fact—in implementing the kind of proposals that incentivize growth and can give our citizens the economic and social opportunities they deserve.

Contact Me

I always appreciate hearing your comments, opinions, and concerns. Please feel free to contact me in Jefferson City at (573) 751-2459. You may write me at Wayne Wallingford, Missouri Senate, State Capitol, Jefferson City, MO 65101, or email at wayne.wallingford@senate.mo.gov or www.senate.mo.gov/wallingford.