HB 253 will cost Missouri more than $850 million when fully implemented. The cuts to services like education, transportation, and public safety required by such a revenue decline will undermine Missouri’s economy and make it harder for Missouri to compete with Kansas and other states.
If Missouri really wants to compete, we must invest in what families and businesses need to thrive: strong schools and affordable, top-rate colleges to educate our children and provide a skilled workforce, quality transportation to get to school and work and bring companies’ products to market, and safe, stable communities.
Missouri is already a low tax state for businesses, so if tax policy were a primary factor in motivating business, then businesses should be flocking to our state. Instead of trying to match Kansas’ shortsighted tax cuts that resulted in a $700 million shortfall, Missouri should invest in what our state needs to improve its own quality of life.
Amy Blouin, executive director
Missouri Budget Project
St. Louis