Gov. Jay Nixon has signed into law a measure offering a tax break for some small businesses in Missouri.
Lawmakers in 2011 approved a tax deduction for small businesses based on each job they add. This year's measure is designed to clarify the types of businesses that can claim the deduction. Nixon traveled Wednesday to Kansas City and Joplin for bill signing ceremonies. He says helping small businesses grow and create jobs will help Missouri's economy. Last week, Nixon's administration cited the tax break as one of several measures contributing to a projected state budget shortfall. The governor trimmed $15 million from the budget that takes effect Sunday.
Meantime, Nixon says he will sign legislation allowing charter schools to operate in more areas of Missouri but with greater oversight. But the governor vetoed a separate education bill that would have made it easier for some students to transfer to other districts. Nixon plans a formal signing ceremony for the charter school bill Wednesday night at the Missouri Girls State convention in Warrensburg. He also announced Wednesday that he vetoed a bill allowing parents in several eastern and central Missouri communities to enroll their children in different districts depending on how many miles they live from the schools. Nixon said one reason he vetoed the bill is that he doesn't believe certain districts should have different policies than the rest of the state for deciding transportation hardships.
