Last week the Missouri House tackled another big issue that thankfully does not have to be done often. Missouri is set to lose one of its nine congressional districts based on 2010 census data. While our state-wide population grew by 7 percent from 2000 to 2010, that growth lagged behind the national average. As a result we must reconfigure the congressional district boundaries in Missouri. The current districts were drawn to include approximately 621,000 people each. Because of population growth and the loss of one district, the new congressional districts will have a population of approximately 748,000 people each.
The Special Committee on Redistricting met throughout the state to take input from the public on this important issue. Their goal was to use a fair and open process to produce a map that would ensure adequate representation in Congress for all Missourians. It was no easy task as making a map that will please everyone is nearly impossible. However, the committee worked together in a bipartisan manner to produce the fairest map possible. The result is one that makes some significant changes to the way our state is divided, but does so in the most reasonable and responsible way possible.
While our area would remain in the sixth congressional district, the boundaries of the district would change significantly. Currently, the sixth primarily consists of Northwest Missouri. With the map proposed by the House, the district would expand to include all of Northeast Missouri as well. In effect, the sixth congressional district would be comprised of the northern third of the state. Of course, the map isn’t final as it still needs approval in the Senate, but this gives you some idea of the changes that may be in store as we do our best to create a fair and accurate congressional map for Missouri. If consensus is not reached between the House and Senate or the Governor rejects it, the final decision will be made by the Supreme Court.
If you are interested in looking at the map proposed by the House, it is available online in Google map format at the following link: http://www.house.mo.gov/largemap.aspx?map=1
In other action, the House gave final approval to a piece of legislation that will reduce the tax burden for many of our Missouri businesses. This legislation has already been approved in the Senate, which means it is now on the way to the governor’s desk to be signed into law.
The bill will gradually eliminate Missouri’s franchise tax on company assets such as buildings and inventory. The franchise tax has been in existence since 1917. While the legislature has reduced the tax over the years, leading business organizations have proposed doing away with the tax entirely as part of the “Fix the Six” legislative package that I discussed before. The bill we approved will reduce the tax each year until it is phased out entirely in 2016.
If you have questions, you may reach me at my Capitol number 573-751-9465, at the local district number, 660-582-4014, by email at mike.thomson@house.mo.gov or by mail at Room 401B State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101
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