Missouri Senate passes plan to end state income tax; bill heads back to House

The Missouri State Senate has passed a plan to get rid of Missouri’s state income tax.

The new plan, passed on an 18-1 vote, would eliminate the income tax in favor of more sales taxes. 

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has made the passage of the bill his top priority for the year.

Democrats did not speak against the measure during Senate debate.  However, some Republicans have voiced criticism of the plan.

Opponents on the Republican side of the aisle included State Senators Mike Moon of Ash Grove, Lincoln Hough of Springfield and Joe Nicola of Independence.

State sales taxes would be added for services that are not currently taxed. These could include such things as home repairs, prescription drugs and fuel. Specifics have not yet been added.

The Missouri House passed the initial version of the measure in March.

The overall bill now heads back to the House for continued work.

If the final bill is approved by the legislature, it would be voted on by citizens as a proposed constitutional amendment this November.