Senator Will Kraus Decries Governor's Veto  of Taxation Overhaul

JEFFERSON CITY — Today (6-5), Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, released a statement to local press in order to address the governor’s veto action on House Bill 253.

“I am disappointed that the governor, who campaigned on fiscal responsibility, would veto the first broad-based tax rate cuts in nearly 100 years. Putting money back in the hands of taxpayers and job creators is the best way to stimulate our economy and put Missourians back to work.

 

Today, the governor stood on the side of higher taxes for all Missouri residents and businesses. While our neighbors and other growing states are lowering taxes to attract economic development and jobs, this governor has chosen to keep Missouri near the bottom in gross domestic product growth and behind most states in population growth. With both the $100 million trigger and the 10-year phase-in, this bill is a responsible way to make Missouri more competitive in the national job market.

 

It is ironic that the governor chose to fly around the state to make these announcements, likely in his new $5 million plane, using even more taxpayer resources to tell taxpayers he won’t cut their taxes. It is ironic that he is visiting a high school while he has never once proposed a budget that would fully fund the foundation formula for public schools. It is ironic that he is visiting a university, since his budgets have slashed higher education funding over the past several years. Clearly, this governor is more interested in showmanship than substance.

 

While it will be up to the bill sponsor in the House and the handler in the Senate to try to override the veto in mid-September, I am confident we will have the votes in the Senate to support it, should it come to us. If we veto it, we will also fix any drafting errors to be certain no taxes are raised on any Missourian. If for some reason we cannot override this veto, I can assure you I will be back with a similar bill next year. 

 

Missourians deserve a new tax policy which drives our state forward.  We will get that policy eventually, regardless of this governor’s insistence on higher taxes and backward thinking.”