Hoping veto of HB253 stands

Dear Editor,

Your readers may have seen some ads on television which talk about the state legislature attempting to pass a “meaningful” tax reduction for Missouri (HB253) only to have Governor Nixon veto it.  

Or they may have read Representative Keeney’s support for the bill in your newspaper (Aug. 2)  They may be thinking that the tax reduction sounds like a good idea so why not support the legislative effort to override Governor Nixon’s veto.

There are many reasons to let Governor Nixon’s veto stand (not override it) and here are a few:

1. This piece of legislation was hundreds of pages long, and it passed in the last days of the session for the Missouri General Assembly.  It is doubtful that many of the legislators who voted on it  knew everything that is contained in it or understood the ramifications.  That, in itself, should make us leery.

2.  If HB253 would be allowed to become law it would immediately reinstate Missouri sales taxes on prescription medicine and college textbooks.  Do the readers want to be paying more for these items because of a law that is supposed to lower taxes?  Supporters of the bill “promise” that these things would be taken care of in the next legislative session.  Really?!

3.  The tax reduction promised would mostly go to certain types of businesses.  The average reduction for average Missourians is estimated to be as little as $6 per year.  Wouldn’t that be eaten up by the increase in prescription medicine?

4.  If HB253 became law it has the potential to be devastating to public education in Missouri.  The general revenue would be cut; therefore, state aid to our local schools would be cut.  Supporters talk about some safeguards built into the bill that would keep this from happening, but those safeguards are flimsy.  Talk to one of your school board members or school administrators if you want to know more about this possible effect.

I could go on and on about the shortcomings of this legislation because it is a complicated bill.   For the sake of brevity I will stop here.  Please educate yourself on the issues and contact your state senator and state representative to uphold Governor Nixon’s veto.  Hurry, time is short.  The veto session is scheduled to begin September 11.

Jo Daniel