Politics

Tax Cut Debate Underway In Missouri Senate

St. Louis Public Radio | By Marshall Griffin,

Marshall Griffin

Published February 11, 2014 at 2:59 PM CST

Debate has begun in the Missouri Senate on this year's attempt to cut the state's income tax rate.

State Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee's Summit, is sponsoring Senate Bill 509. It would reduce the individual income tax rate from 6 percent to 5 percent and phase in a tax deduction on an individual's business income of 50 percent. Kraus debated the potential effects of the bill with fellow Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, on the Senate floor Tuesday.

"I believe that (it) would improve the growth of our state by growing our economy, and that would improve our GDP," Kraus said. "Can I tell you (by) how much? No."

"Right, and that's the problem, senator, that’s the crux of the problem," Levota responded. "We see Kansas do something like that, they only have a growth rate of 1.19 percent, 21st in the country. We've had a growth rate of 1.69 percent, 11th in the country, and we haven't done this.... There's a group of people that say (that) this type of tax cut will harm our (social) services."

The bill was set aside after about 90 minutes of debate, and a spokesperson indicated that they may spend more than a week on it before pushing for first-round approval.

A similar tax cut bill in the House, HB1253, has already passed through two committees and is currently awaiting floor debate. Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat, vetoed last year's attempt at cutting Missouri's tax rate and has spoken out against this year's attempts as well, saying it would gut education funding.

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Marshall Griffin

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.

See stories by Marshall Griffin

Marshall Griffin

St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.