Capitol Report – End of Session Wrap-Up
The 2015 Missouri legislative session, which ended May 15, saw important accomplishments by lawmakers for the people of Missouri. The General Assembly passed several pieces of legislation that will help businesses thrive in the state and create jobs for Missourians, while working to spend taxpayer money wisely. Members of the Upper Chamber worked hard to push back against federal and state bureaucratic overreach.
Ways and Means Committee Protecting Taxpayers
After passing a responsible tax cut for every Missourian last year, the Senate Ways and Means Committee, which I chair, focused on further aiding everyday citizens and small businesses. The committee members spent a significant amount of time holding public hearings before the 2015 session and passed several protections for taxpayers and small businesses in response to major concerns they heard from citizens. The committee’s major priorities were pushing back against the Department of Revenue’s (DOR) overreach into taxpayers’ pockets and small businesses’ limited coffers, as well as ensuring DOR is held accountable to taxpayers in the future.
These goals were accomplished through creating fairness for taxpayers in DOR’s audit process, preventing the department from going after employers by alleging employees underreported tips, and setting a shorter deadline for when DOR must provide taxpayers their refunds. The Ways and Means Committee also amended the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights to include the right to fair and consistent application of Missouri tax laws, and commissioned a study on state tax policy to identify areas needing improvement.
Other reforms are aimed at helping Missouri businesses grow. For example, Senate Bill 19, which the governor has signed, creates a better environment for multi-state companies to establish headquarters in Missouri, producing high-paying jobs.
Promoting Smaller Government
The Legislature worked to ensure that taxpayer money is spent wisely on modern, effective policies. Major reforms to Missouri’s outdated welfare system were passed, and legislators overrode the governor’s veto of the bill. Our current system has produced one of the country’s worst welfare recipient work participation rates.
The Strengthening Missouri Families Act will require recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to participate in a work activity, including job training, volunteering or furthering their education, in order to receive benefits. The law will reallocate welfare benefits and is aimed at incentivizing work activities. It will reinvest the savings to other services, such as expanded job training and childcare. Using current levels of general revenue wisely is vital to keeping state government small.
The General Assembly passed the most conservative budget in many years. This budget endorses a smaller government, but bolsters areas that will help Missouri grow. The Fiscal Year 2016 has a $90 million surplus, while increasing K – 12 education funding and other areas that have been neglected for the past several years.
Additionally, the Senate adjusted the budget to control the fastest growing expenses for the state, which includes social services and Medicaid. While these departments will still see an increase in their operating budgets, the increases will not be as substantial as requested. The Governor signed the budget bills on May 8, with only minor concerns over technical language.
Preserving Integrity of Elections
Another goal for the 2015 legislative session was to preserve the integrity of elections, while also making the elections process efficient and affording everyone their voting rights. Two important pieces of legislation concerning elections passed this session. The first, which I co-sponsored with Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, extends the voter registration deadline for military members, making it easier for them to vote. The second sets a deadline for courts to decide on challenges to ballot initiatives. This change stemmed from a county election last year in which a last-minute change cost the state $700,000 reprinting costs. Setting a deadline will save taxpayers money on election costs and help county officials execute elections efficiently.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions, and will try to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 573-751-1464, or e-mail at will.kraus@senate.mo.gov.
Senator Will Kraus serves Eastern Jackson County in the 8th State Senatorial District.
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