Gov. Bob Holden may think Missourians want to pay more taxes, but the people of the 26th District are telling me they definitely do not want any new taxes. The overwhelming response from letters, e-mails, telephone calls and in-person conversations has been against a tax increase of any kind to balance the state's budget.

I heard you and I will stand with you on this matter. I ran for election on the promise that I would not vote to raise your taxes and I will stand by that. Somewhere down the line, there could be another tax increase issue for transportation or another that I may ask voters to support, but that's in the future.

Last week the Senate Ways and Means Committee - which I sit on - heard five hours of testimony on seven bills that, for the most part, would have raised taxes. These tax bills are dead.

One of the other bills heard in committee dealt largely with revenue generating measures that did not raise your taxes.

This revenue-generating bill would have also eliminated the so-called "yacht" tax. Even though the governor says he supports that measure, it can already be found as part of House Bill 600 which is sitting on Gov. Holden's desk waiting to be signed. HB 600 includes numerous revenue generating proposals that should add millions of dollars to the budget.

The governor advocates closing corporate loopholes. However, Ray McCarty of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce testified at the Ways and Means Committee meeting that approximately 25 other states are in the same position as Missouri and provide non-tax loopholes.

Mr. McCarty testified that due to the Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution, states closing this loophole would probably be ruled unconstitutional by the United States Supreme Court. Therefore, it would be in violation of federal law if we took the action the governor is proposing.

I will not support a tax increase of any kind with the new federal funds Missouri is scheduled to receive. We will use part of the money into this year's budget and the rest we will save for next year's budget.

Should the governor sign Senate Bill 600, I am confident that the Fiscal Year 2004 budget will be balanced without any new taxes. I think Missouri State Government needs to live within its means, just as all of you have to with your home and business budgets.

There is no question in mind that the governor will veto the new budget bills we have developed and the General Assembly will return to the Capitol for another try.