By Katie Kreider
Two state senators from opposite parties and different sides of the state announced March 4 that they had come together on legislation that would prohibit the use of electronic welfare cards at certain places, such as casinos and liquor stores.
Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-St. Louis County, announced she decided to work with Sen. Will Kraus, R-Jackson County, on a bill she opposed last session.
Last year Kraus proposed a similar bill that would require photo identification to get food stamps. Chappelle-Nadal argued the bill would hurt her constituents who rely on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families fund for support.
However, Chappelle-Nadal said she decided to work with Kraus this year after she learned that people were abusing the TANF fund.
"These funds are supposed to be used for families who are in need and for children who are in need," Chappelle-Nadal said. "So when I found out that these cards were being used for casinos and at strip clubs and out of town for possible vacations, I was dismayed."
The bipartisan bill would limit Electronic Benefits Transfer cards from being used for liquor, strip clubs, casinos and other recreational activities.
This bill is similar to a federal law passed in 2013 that would regulate the use of TANF welfare cards at casinos, strip clubs and to buy liquor and tobacco. This legislation takes it one step further by also regulating all recreational activities such as going to the movies or to amusement parks.
Showing posts with label Will Kraus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Will Kraus. Show all posts
Friday, March 8, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Senate Advances Broad-Based Tax Relief
Missourians could soon see the biggest tax overhaul in the state in nearly 90 years under a proposal that recently received first-round approval in the Missouri Senate. Senate Bill 26 would cut personal and corporate state income taxes on hard-working Missourians while freeing up capital for job creators across the state. The last time the state Legislature cut income taxes was in 1921.
Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, said this broad-based tax relief will help send a strong signal that the Show-Me State is open for business.
“Tax reform is a crucial part of our economic development policy,” said Dempsey. “This bill is a priority for this legislative session. Providing tax relief to all working Missourians, employers and businesses will make us one of the most competitive states in the country.”
Under the proposal, Senate Bill 26 would lower personal and corporate state income tax by .75 percent over a five-year span. Small businesses would be allowed a 50 percent deduction for business income, which would be phased in over a five-year period. The measure would also raise the state sales and use tax by a one-half percent, phased in over five years. The measure is expected to cut taxes across the state by $450,000,000.
Bill sponsor, Senator Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, says the tax cut in conjunction with tax credit reform will ultimately have a positive return on the state budget.
“This pro-growth, pro-jobs bill will allow us to put money back into tax payers’ hands so they can go out and spend it and create more jobs,” said Kraus. “I’ve never worked a bill harder than I have worked this bill.”
Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said the Senate proved they can work to compromise on important legislation. “Unlike Washington D.C., we aren’t addicted to taxing and spending,” said Richard. “Here in Missouri we are cutting inefficient programs and providing the savings to working Missourians and job creators.”
The bill needs another vote of approval before it heads to the House for its consideration. For more on this bill and others, go to www.senate.mo.gov.
Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, said this broad-based tax relief will help send a strong signal that the Show-Me State is open for business.
“Tax reform is a crucial part of our economic development policy,” said Dempsey. “This bill is a priority for this legislative session. Providing tax relief to all working Missourians, employers and businesses will make us one of the most competitive states in the country.”
Under the proposal, Senate Bill 26 would lower personal and corporate state income tax by .75 percent over a five-year span. Small businesses would be allowed a 50 percent deduction for business income, which would be phased in over a five-year period. The measure would also raise the state sales and use tax by a one-half percent, phased in over five years. The measure is expected to cut taxes across the state by $450,000,000.
Bill sponsor, Senator Will Kraus, R-Lee’s Summit, says the tax cut in conjunction with tax credit reform will ultimately have a positive return on the state budget.
“This pro-growth, pro-jobs bill will allow us to put money back into tax payers’ hands so they can go out and spend it and create more jobs,” said Kraus. “I’ve never worked a bill harder than I have worked this bill.”
Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said the Senate proved they can work to compromise on important legislation. “Unlike Washington D.C., we aren’t addicted to taxing and spending,” said Richard. “Here in Missouri we are cutting inefficient programs and providing the savings to working Missourians and job creators.”
The bill needs another vote of approval before it heads to the House for its consideration. For more on this bill and others, go to www.senate.mo.gov.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Senate panel looks at slashing of business taxes
(MDN News) -- Republicans in the Missouri Senate are looking to dramatically lower the tax bills of business owners in the state, saying that the actions of surrounding state legislatures could leave Missouri's economy in the dust if lawmakers don't act quickly.
Sens. Eric Schmitt, R-St. Louis County, and Will Kraus, R-Lee's Summit, have each put forth proposals that would cut the state's corporate income tax rates and also allow business owners to deduct part of their business income on their individual tax returns.
Both senators told a Senate tax committee this week that the changes are necessary if Missouri wants to compete with states like Kansas. As of Jan. 1, some business income in Kansas is now exempt from the state's income tax and conservative lawmakers there are now pushing to eliminate the individual income tax altogether.
"The fact of the matter is, we are in a competition among other states," Schmitt said. "We don't operate in a vacuum. We're part of a larger decision-making process for business owners."
Schmitt's measure would cut the corporate tax rate from the current 6.25 percent to 3.125 percent by 2017 and would allow business owners to deduct half of their business income. The proposal from Kraus would allow a 25 percent deduction and would reduce the corporate rate to 3.25 percent by 2017.
A fiscal estimate attached to Schmitt's bill said it could cost the state as much as $200 million in revenue by 2016, while the cost of Kraus' bill was pegged at more than $924 million per year within three years.
Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, said he is worried that taking that much revenue from Missouri's tenuously balanced budget could put vital state services, such as education or road construction, on the chopping block.
"We've seen the Kansas cut and now they can't fund their schools," LeVota said. "We see that we have cut and we've given away a lot of tax credits and now we can't fund our foundation formula. If we dig into tax policy that helps create jobs, which we all want to do, let's make sure that we're still paying for the basic obligations of the state."
Sens. Eric Schmitt, R-St. Louis County, and Will Kraus, R-Lee's Summit, have each put forth proposals that would cut the state's corporate income tax rates and also allow business owners to deduct part of their business income on their individual tax returns.
Both senators told a Senate tax committee this week that the changes are necessary if Missouri wants to compete with states like Kansas. As of Jan. 1, some business income in Kansas is now exempt from the state's income tax and conservative lawmakers there are now pushing to eliminate the individual income tax altogether.
"The fact of the matter is, we are in a competition among other states," Schmitt said. "We don't operate in a vacuum. We're part of a larger decision-making process for business owners."
Schmitt's measure would cut the corporate tax rate from the current 6.25 percent to 3.125 percent by 2017 and would allow business owners to deduct half of their business income. The proposal from Kraus would allow a 25 percent deduction and would reduce the corporate rate to 3.25 percent by 2017.
A fiscal estimate attached to Schmitt's bill said it could cost the state as much as $200 million in revenue by 2016, while the cost of Kraus' bill was pegged at more than $924 million per year within three years.
Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, said he is worried that taking that much revenue from Missouri's tenuously balanced budget could put vital state services, such as education or road construction, on the chopping block.
"We've seen the Kansas cut and now they can't fund their schools," LeVota said. "We see that we have cut and we've given away a lot of tax credits and now we can't fund our foundation formula. If we dig into tax policy that helps create jobs, which we all want to do, let's make sure that we're still paying for the basic obligations of the state."
Friday, April 13, 2012
State budget sent to Senate floor with freeze on public education funding.
Missouri's $24 billion budget was sent to the Senate floor Thursday, April 12, with a near stand-still level funding for public education.
Senate Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, said this was probably the most difficult budget year ever. The budget in the Senate is $86 million below what the House had passed last month, but freezes funding for K-12 and higher education.
Colleges and universities were facing a 15 percent cut under a proposal from Gov. Jay Nixon, but were spared when the House passed its budget last month. The House was able to fund public universities at the same level as last year through a $40 million boost from a national settlement against mortgage companies and cuts to a $28 million health care program for the blind.
Schaefer's committee also endorsed the House plan to keep funding stable for K-12 education, including a $5 million increase recommended by Nixon. Despite the small increase, the formula for funding local school districts is still below the recommended amount in state law.
The lack of adequate funding means the rural schools without a large local tax base will continue to lose funds disproportionately to suburban schools with higher local revenue.
The Senate Appropriations Committee also kept funding for higher education equal to last year, but it did not go along with the House's cut to the blind. Schaefer proposed a new plan to fund the 2,800 people who do not qualify for Medicaid benefits.
Schaefer's proposal would require people on the current program to now pay a $111 premium and a $600 deductible to receive state medical coverage. Those costs are based off the average amount paid by a state employee.
Tax credits have also been a discussion point for the state's budget. Although the General Assembly has twice failed to cap some of the existing programs, some senators may be looking at the budget to address the issue.
Sen. Will Kraus, R-Jackson County, said the state could have a lot more money to spend if tax credit programs were reined in and capped. Schaefer said there could be some discussion on the Senate floor, but it would be "outside the scope" of the budget.
Schaefer said it was unrealistic to assume "everybody's problems are going to be solved by putting in the budget."
Senate Appropriations Chairman Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, said this was probably the most difficult budget year ever. The budget in the Senate is $86 million below what the House had passed last month, but freezes funding for K-12 and higher education.
Colleges and universities were facing a 15 percent cut under a proposal from Gov. Jay Nixon, but were spared when the House passed its budget last month. The House was able to fund public universities at the same level as last year through a $40 million boost from a national settlement against mortgage companies and cuts to a $28 million health care program for the blind.
Schaefer's committee also endorsed the House plan to keep funding stable for K-12 education, including a $5 million increase recommended by Nixon. Despite the small increase, the formula for funding local school districts is still below the recommended amount in state law.
The lack of adequate funding means the rural schools without a large local tax base will continue to lose funds disproportionately to suburban schools with higher local revenue.
The Senate Appropriations Committee also kept funding for higher education equal to last year, but it did not go along with the House's cut to the blind. Schaefer proposed a new plan to fund the 2,800 people who do not qualify for Medicaid benefits.
Schaefer's proposal would require people on the current program to now pay a $111 premium and a $600 deductible to receive state medical coverage. Those costs are based off the average amount paid by a state employee.
Tax credits have also been a discussion point for the state's budget. Although the General Assembly has twice failed to cap some of the existing programs, some senators may be looking at the budget to address the issue.
Sen. Will Kraus, R-Jackson County, said the state could have a lot more money to spend if tax credit programs were reined in and capped. Schaefer said there could be some discussion on the Senate floor, but it would be "outside the scope" of the budget.
Schaefer said it was unrealistic to assume "everybody's problems are going to be solved by putting in the budget."
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