http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/norquist-jones-push-sb-509-ahead-likely-veto_82939.mp3
The president of Americans for Tax Reform says Missouri’s Democratic Governor doesn’t consider education a priority. Grover Norquist’s comments came Monday in Springfield while campaigning alongside House Speaker Tim Jones for SB 509.
The anti-tax advocate said Nixon is using "an old playbook” in his fight to win support against the bill, which was passed by the Republican-led Legislature two weeks ago. The Governor has stated that the bill would take away $620 million annually from public education. Norquist said Nixon’s argument that he values education and would be forced to cut funding if SB 509 passes does the opposite.
“You say ‘Well if there’s a cut in taxes I would cut ‘x,’ and I don’t want to because ‘x’ is my highest priority.’ Now wait a minute, if there’s a $1 cut and you were going to decide that it came out of education out of billions of dollars in the budget, what you’ve really told people is that your lowest priority is education,” Norquist said.
“Why not have to cut something else?” questioned Missouri House Speaker Tim Jones. “Why is he [Nixon] always trying to cut education dollars? Because we’re trying to give some tax money back to the people and grow our economy.”
Jones called SB 509 a “revenue accelerator” that will put money back into the pockets of taxpayers and provide more funds for education.
The bill reduces the top personal income tax rate of 6 percent to 5.5 percent by 1/10 of a percent each year beginning in 2017. The reductions, however, are incumbent upon growth in the state's general revenue.
Nixon is expected to veto the bill this week.
Education groups have sided with the Governor, raising concerns that the tax cut bill could lead to a future reduction in school funding. Local school officials from Springfield and Nixa have also expressed their concerns with how the bill could impact the already underfunded foundation formula, as well as a provision in the bill that the Governor’s office says could eliminate the top income tax rate and cost the state $4.8 billion annually.
Speaker Jones has called the tax bracket argument by the Governor blatantly false, citing a review by former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice William Ray Price. Jones also spoke of revenue triggers that stipulate that none of the tax reductions can take place if the state doesn’t increase its revenue by at least $150 million every year.
“There would have to be over $700 million of new revenue to flow into our budget before this tax cut would go into effect. And the cut would be at a lesser number. Which means money will go back to the taxpayers, and there will be more money for General Revenue and for education, and healthcare, and transportation.”
Norquist says there’s been a “big shift” in recent years from states that are making the move to lower income taxes, such as Kansas, as well as states that have eliminated the income tax entirely, which he believes will grow jobs.
“When somebody says we’re heading that way, families can decide to stay because they see the tax code getting better. People will decide to invest and expand businesses here because they see the trend.”
As of late, Norquist has publically pledged his support for certain Missouri bills, included right-to-work. Speaker Jones said Monday Norquist was brought in to provide a “national view” on tax cutting measures. Jones added that if the state doesn’t move forward on the bill “we’re gonna be left behind in the economic dust bin.”
Both Jones and Norquist believe they have the votes to override the Governor’s veto either by the end of this session or in September.