We’ve
learned many lessons from the special session of the Missouri
Legislature, among those lessons one that gives me cause for great
concern.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>It has become clearer to me now than ever that the interests and needs of the oppressed and the indigent have been pushed aside in the discussion of how to revitalize our economy. As someone who ran for office with the desire to give a voice to the voiceless, I feel it necessary to speak up and say that we simply aren’t doing enough for those who need us most.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>If you look at the history of the Democratic Party, it is one filled with inspirational leaders who have worked diligently to defend the interests of the oppressed and the indigent. It’s the reason why myself and many of my colleagues are proud to call ourselves Democrats.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>But those guiding principles have been lost in the shuffle of a special session that is nothing short of a disaster. What started out as a bill to turn the St. Louis airport into an international trade hub has now become a tax credit reform bill that will do away with several programs that are absolutely critical to the people we, as public servants, are meant to protect.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>It’s a plan that, in all honest, will devastate many of lower-income Missourians at a time when they are already struggling to make ends meet.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>What’s sad to me is this issue of tax credit reform has turned into one focused solely on return on investment. Legislators are obsessed with how much each dollar of investment brings back to the state and fixated on eliminating credits that don’t have a healthy return. What they have failed to consider is that while many credits don’t have a huge dollar return, they do represent a significant investment in something even more important – human capital.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Taking a look at some of the tax credit programs that are set to be phased out under the plan approved by the Senate, we see many programs vital to the oppressed and the indigent.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The Shared Care Tax Credit helps families offset the costs of caring for an elderly loved one. The Special Needs Adoption Tax Credit assists with adoption expenses for special needs children. The Residential Dwelling Accessibility Tax Credit helps pay the cost of making a residential home accessible for individuals with disabilities. The Domestic Violence Shelter Tax Credit helps fund shelters who provide critical assistance to women trying to escape an abusive relationship. And the Youth Opportunities Tax Credit Program helps keep young people from engaging in criminal and violent behavior and gives them a much better chance to become productive, healthy adults.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>All of these highly beneficial programs and many more would be phased out under legislation currently under consideration by the Missouri General Assembly.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>As Democrats we cannot stand idly by and allow these programs to be eliminated. At a time when our unemployment rate continues to hover around 9 percent and the unemployment rate in the African-American community continues to be around 16 percent, we absolutely cannot allow vital programs such as these to be eliminated. The results would be devastating for the people we are meant to support and protect.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Rather than talking about ways to eliminate these tax credit programs that provide so much benefit to the oppressed and the indigent, we should be working to find ways to keep them in place during a time when they are most needed. Democrats have worked toward this goal over the history of the party and we must continue to work toward it today. The people of Missouri are counting us. Let’s not let them down.
