JEFFERSON CITY — Today, the governor again traveled the state defending his veto of House Bill 253, an across-the-board tax cut for all Missourians passed by the Missouri General Assembly during the recent legislative session. The governor, speaking to a targeted audience of teachers, administrators, and board members in Branson, stressed the necessity of upholding his veto of the first substantive reform of Missouri’s tax code in nearly 100 years.

"This is a long overdue and much-deserved tax cut for the people of Missouri,” said Sen. Sater. “The taxpayers and businesses in southwest Missouri I have heard from do not believe they are undertaxed.”

After the Missouri Legislature passed a budget with an historic funding increase for education, the governor withheld $400 million from the state budget, including the funding increase for K-12 education. He stated that he would only release the funding if his veto of HB 253 was not overridden.

“I am disappointed the governor is holding the education of our children hostage to win political points,” said Sen. Sater. “We voted this session to increase funding for education and to let the taxpayers keep more of their own money. That’s a win-win for Missouri, and the governor is refusing to do either.”

Missouri’s state constitution requires that at least 25 percent of state revenue go to public education. In its FY 2014 budget, the Missouri Legislature is dedicating more than 38 percent to education. This, combined with a provision in HB 253 that requires $100 million in increased revenue in order for the tax cuts to take effect, guarantees that revenues won’t fall and vital services, like public education, will not be affected.

“The governor has traveled the state the last two months campaigning for higher taxes in Missouri and scaring our educators and seniors into thinking we can’t afford a tax cut,” said Sen. Sater. “I believe we can provide a first-class education in Missouri and have the kind of tax policy that attracts employers so our children will have jobs when they get out of school.”