JEFFERSON CITY — Already this session, several bills have been introduced designed to improve Missouri's job climate and make Missouri a more business-competitive state. The effects of the economic recession have been extremely challenging to job providers, employees, and, consequently, the state budget. There are still more than 200,000 people in our state looking for jobs and many businesses struggling to keep their doors open. This difficult reality requires members of the Missouri General Assembly to continue in our efforts to create a climate where businesses can grow and put Missourians back to work in good-paying jobs with benefits.

One step Missouri could take that would immediately improve our economic situation is to pass Right-to-Work legislation. For those not familiar with Right-to-Work, it would essentially prevent employers from requiring employees to become a member of a labor union or pay dues required of labor organization members as a condition of employment. I firmly believe that no worker should be forced to join a union to keep his or her job. If we became a Right-to-Work state, Missouri would instantly be seen as a more welcoming state to business and would encourage employers to bring their jobs to Missouri.

The Missouri Senate recently began discussion on reforming Missouri’s tax code. Our neighboring states and other states around the country are revising their tax policy to attract employers and residents. Senate Bill 11 was heard in the Senate Ways and Means committee last week and would create an individual income tax deduction of, once fully phased in over a five-year period, 50 percent on business income. On the corporate side, SB 11 would reduce the corporate income tax rate from its current 6.25 percent of Missouri taxable income each year to 3.125 percent over a five-year period. There will be more conversations about Missouri’s current tax policy as we move forward this session and I encourage you to contact me if you have opinions or suggestions you would like to share about Missouri’s tax code.

With a national debt in excess of $16 trillion and several new and expensive federal programs created over the past four years, we must maintain our commitment to fiscal responsibility in Missouri. Perhaps the most important action the Legislature can take is to pass a balanced budget with no tax increases. We must continue our efforts to reduce the size and scope of state government so taxpayers can afford to sustain it. Allowing hard-working Missouri employers and employees to keep more of their paychecks is the best way to grow our state economy and get our citizens back to work.