Anticipated Special Session Set To Begin
Greetings Friends of the 144th!
Remember the game hang man we played as kids? We guessed letters and tried to solve the unknown word before our stick man was complete. Sometimes we were able to solve the unknown word yet still not know its meaning. In everyday life, we often know the meaning of words but some choose not to practice them.
“Responsible” is a word that people often complain to me about that they feel society doesn’t practice enough. Being responsible means being dependable, keeping promises, and honoring our commitments. It is accepting the consequences for what we say and do. It also means developing ones potential. People who are responsible don’t make excuses for their actions or blame others when things go wrong.
Responsibility is important because it makes you into a better person. Life lessons are often taught through taking responsibility for your actions, mistakes, and the events that occur in life. Who wouldn’t want their child to grow to be a responsible person? It is our “responsibility” to teach our children to be “responsible”. This is a trait that must be learned and fostered.
Teach children that responsibility isn’t just doing chores, it’s following through on commitments, answering for their own actions, being reliable and trustworthy, using good judgment, taking care of their own affairs, and not procrastinating. Responsibility helps you learn how to handle difficult situations, make good decisions, and set goals, and achieve them.
House Members to Return for Special Session to Provide Tax Relief and Support Agriculture
For several weeks now the members of the Missouri House of Representatives have anticipated the need to return to Jefferson City for a special session to make historic income tax cuts and extend key agriculture tax credit programs. This week Gov. Mike Parson officially issued the call for the extra session that is set to begin Tuesday, September 6 at noon.
During the 2022 regular session the members of the House and Senate passed legislation to provide tax relief to Missouri taxpayers, and to extend the agriculture tax credit programs. However, Parson vetoed HB 2090, which would have provided substantive tax relief in the form of a one-time economic recovery tax credit for Missouri residents who paid personal income tax in the state for 2021. Parson said he prefers permanent tax relief. He also vetoed HB 1720, which was approved by the General Assembly to renew key programs that support and promote agriculture in the state for another two years. Parson said he prefers to extend the programs for six years.
In response to the call, House Speaker Rob Vescovo and Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher issued a joint statement saying, “The House made substantive tax relief for taxpayers and support for our agriculture industry top priorities during the regular session. We stand ready to again work on these issues to help Missouri families in these challenging times.”
Parson also revealed details of his proposed tax cut. His plan includes reducing the individual income tax rate, increasing the standard deduction, and further simplifying the tax code. The plan includes:
Reducing the top individual income tax rate from 5.3 to 4.8 percent, a nearly 10 percent cut;
Increasing the standard deduction for individuals by $2,000 and by $4,000 for married joint filers; and
Eliminating the bottom income tax bracket.
Parson said his tax relief plan means significant savings for Missourians each year. Under his plan, a senior citizen making $20,000 per year would see a 100 percent decrease in tax liability; a single adult making $25,000 per year would see a 32 percent decrease in tax liability; a single mom with two kids making $35,000 per year would have a 21 percent decrease in tax liability; and a married couple making $125,000 per year would see their tax liability decreased by 11 percent.
Every Missourian will earn their first $16,000 tax free and married joint filers will earn their first $32,000 tax free, resulting in significant savings for millions of Missourians. The Governor believes his plan puts more of Missourians’ hard-earned dollars back in their pockets and aims to make it a little easier for families to put food on the table and gas in the car.
Parson’s special session call also includes the extension and creation of several agriculture tax credit programs intended to help develop key areas of Missouri’s agricultural industry, the state’s top economic driver. The sunset for each program will be for a minimum of six years. The call includes:
-Extending the expiration of the meat processing facility investment tax credit;
-Creating a tax credit program for retail dealers of higher ethanol blend fuels;
-Creating a tax credit program for retail dealers of biodiesel;
-Creating a tax credit program for Missouri biodiesel producers;
-Creating a tax credit program for establishing or improving urban farming operations;
-Extending the expiration of the Rolling Stock Tax Credit program;
-Extending the expiration of the Agricultural Product Utilization Contributor Tax Credit;
-Extending the expiration of the New Generation Cooperative Incentive Tax Credit;
-Exempting utility vehicles for agriculture use from state and local sales and use taxes;
-Creating the Specialty Agricultural Crops Act; and
-Amending the Family Farms Act to modify the definition of small farmer.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns, or suggestions you might have. As your Representative, I am here to assist you however I can. I can be reached by email at Chris.Dinkins@house.mo.gov or by phone at 573-751-2112. Please do not contact me via social media. These messages are easy to overlook and may not be responded to in a timely manner.
