Missouri voters reject ballot measure to eliminate the state income tax

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri voters have rejected a ballot measure to eliminate the state’s individual income tax and authorize more state sales taxes.

Amendment 5 would have directed the Legislature to phase out the individual income tax as state revenue grows. To spur that along, it also would have allowed lawmakers to expand the sales tax to “any goods and services,” and given them five years to determine how to do that.

The Missouri measure marks the first time since the modern income tax began over a century ago that a U.S. state legislature has asked voters whether to eliminate the tax.

Alaska is the only state so far to impose a general individual income tax and then repeal it, doing so in 1980 by a legislative vote.

Massachusetts voters rejected income tax eliminations in 2008 and 2002 that were initiated by citizens, not lawmakers.

Governor Mike Kehoe, who backed both defeated amendments, vowed to continue working for tax cuts and “election integrity” measures to protect the constitution.