Kraus Blasts Nixon for “Scare Tactics” on Tax Reform March 12, 2013

Missouri State Senator Will Kraus, of Lee’s Summit, accused Governor Jay Nixon and his staff of not fully understanding the tax reform bill Kraus is pushing in the State Senate.
In a Tuesday morning statement, Kraus said, the Nixon administration did not approach him about the details of the measure during the months it was being drawn up.
“It is clear that the governor and his staff read only half of SB 26, and that they are content with using scare tactics to advance their agenda,” Kraus said in a Tuesday morning statement.
The Associated Press reports, “Nixon has written to every state senator urging a “no” vote on the legislation when it comes up for a roll call later this week. The Republican-led Senate gave the measure initial approval last week by voice vote.”
The tax reform bill is designed, in part, to address concerns about the so-called, ‘Border War’.
That’s a reference to Kansas tax cuts that may be luring Missouri businesses in the Kansas City area and along Missouri’s western border to re-locate to Kansas.
The measure, among other things, reduces the state income tax by three-quarters of a percent over 5 years.
Nixon says the measure would harm low-income Missourians and veterans.
Kraus, a member of the Missouri national Guard takes an exception to that.
“For the governor to suggest that I, as a veteran and current member of the National Guard, would harm veterans is offensive. Missourians deserve the truth, and the truth is that SB 26 represents an affordable tax cut that will save every taxpayer money,” Kraus said.

Nixon Appeals for Bipartisanship and Unity to Start 2nd Term January 14, 2013

Georganne and Jay Nixon at Inaugural parade. Photo: Jefferson City Tribune

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon appealed for bipartisanship and unity during his second inaugural address in Jefferson City Monday.
Nixon is the first Missouri Governor to start a second term since Mel Carnahan in 1997.
Nixon recalled his early years as a State Senator, when Missouri government was also divided.
Republican Governor John Ashcrfot had to deal with a very Democratic legislature at the time.
“But it was possible to disagree, while continuing to advance the public good. Cooperation wasn’t considered a sign of weakness, but rather a prerequisite for progress,” Nixon said in his 12 minute speech. He added, “progress is not partisan”.
Nixon noted Missouri’s own history has been very divided.
He talked about how during the Civil War the state had 12 Governors, some for the Union; some for the Confederacy.
“That my friends? That was hard politics,” he joked.
Nixon did not dwell on policy specifics in the speech before about 4,000 guests and officials on a cold, sunny day.
Details will come in a couple of weeks when Nixon gives his ‘ State of the State’ speech.
One of the Governor’s key proposals will be a plan to expand Medicaid in Missouri.
Many Republican lawmakers oppose that on the surface.
The state’s rural and small town hospitals support a Medicaid expansion. Hospitals are frequently to biggest employers in some Missouri communities.
The state Hospital Association may have a loud voice in the debate.
The super-majorities of Republicans in both chambers seem intent to press an agenda of tax cuts
Some of those cuts could be targeted to respond to the Kansas City area ‘border war’ with Kansas.
Kansas state tax incentives have been luring Kansas City Missouri area businesses across the state line with the Kansas tax breaks.
Those divisions, however, were not in the Governor’s inaugural speech.
“Together we can — and we will — build a bright future for the great state of Missouri in the greatest nation on earth.” Nixon said near the end of his address.

Missouri Tax Reform Plan to Counter Kansas Emerges November 29, 2012

(AP) — A Republican state senator from St. Louis County plans to sponsor legislation trimming taxes for Missouri businesses.
The bill eventually would cut the corporate income tax rate in half and create a 50 percent tax deduction for business income. The tax cuts would be phased in over five years.
Sen. Eric Schmitt, who leads the Senate’s economic development committee, will sponsor the bill. Schmitt says the tax cuts would signal Missouri’s willingness to help large and small businesses.
Missouri legislative leaders have said they would seek changes to the tax code to spur economic development during the 2013 session. Those efforts come after Kansas passed significant tax cuts earlier this year.