This week, Republicans in the House expressed their (or “we expressed our”) concern with the Governor’s imitative to eliminate tax credits in Missouri. The Governor claimed that “every dollar that went to tax credits” could be a dollar spent on education. What the Governor didn’t mention, however, is that he has been pushing tax credits since he was elected into office. Last year, he took credit for the economic development bill that we passed through the House, and he flew around the state conducting ceremonial bill signings to promote the bill. What he also failed to mention, was that his budget for the 2011 fiscal year reduced education funding significantly.
By providing tax credit incentives for Missouri businesses, we put people to work and we are able to grow our state’s economy – which is needed now more than ever. More jobs mean people are buying homes and buying properties that fund education through property taxes and sales taxes. If we take tax credits away, as the Governor suggests, education will be negatively effected.
Many of us would welcome the Governor to look at the tax credit program and conduct a cost-benefit analysis and really research how we can improve the system. That way, we will have an in-depth perspective of good changes that could be made – but he has not offered any concrete suggestion. I am also interested to know why the Governor has been promoting tax credits relentlessly for the past year and a half. In fact, the only time he has ever visited the House floor during session was to lobby for our economic development bill which included tax credit incentives for businesses.
The Speaker has taken a firm stance against pushing the Governor’s hollow proposal to eliminate tax credits – especially since we are entering the last weeks of session. The House has been slow and steady, looking all recommendations, before we push any legislation through the process and we will handle tax credits the same way.
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