Opponents of Tax Reform Running Out of Bottles of Beer on the Wall
While most people’s attention seems to have been diverted to the Special Session of the General Assembly, many other activities are still taking place. One of those is a quest to make Missouri the economic engine of the Midwest! The folks at Let Voters Decide (LVD) have submitted four new versions of the initiative petitions to repeal the income tax and replace it with a consumer-driven...
Read MoreSpecial Session or Not?
The House and Senate have officially begun the special session called by Governor Jay Nixon. There are a few things that should happen in the special session but not most of the ones for which it was called. Yesterday, the St Louis Post Dispatch listed a summary of the items to be considered during the special session. While it glosses over some of the points within the various items, it is a...
Read MoreThe Fallacy of Government “Job Creation ” Bills
Everyone’s aware of the hullabaloo surrounding President Obama’s “jobs” speech next week. The last time he gave a speech and had a plan, it cost nearly a trillion dollars and unemployment went way up. The country can’t take many more of these kinds of plans! We don’t have to go to D.C. to find “good” government ideas about job creation. All of us...
Read MoreHow will Tax Reform for Brighten Missouri’s Future? Come Find Out Tonight!
Tonight, August 30, 2011 the second forum on the tax reform proposal will be held at the Frontenac Hilton. If you are curious, concerned or have been misled by detractors of the proposal come out and get the straight skinny! You can RSVP here. We will have a very special guest Tennessee, Senator Brian Kelsey. Senator Kelsey will give you first hand experience about how the Tennessee model is...
Read MoreA Bright Future for Missouri
The tax reform proposals contained in the initiative petitions currently being processed by the Secretary of State’s office represent a bright future for Missouri. On Tuesday night, hear firsthand experience with a similar model that has been operating successfully in Tennessee by attending our Two Forums – ONE Vision event! As with most things that challenge the...
Read MoreOpponents of Tax Reform Running Scared & Away from Facts!
The Kansas City Star editorial page has always been for big government, more redistribution of other people’s wealth, etc. If it weren’t for the misleading, inaccurate and downright deceptive statements in the editorial, their apoplectic rantings about the proposed tax reform measure would be entertaining. Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this...
Read MoreTwo Forums – ONE Vision! St Louis Region
Tuesday night, August 30, 2011 the second forum on the tax reform proposal will be held at the Frontenac Hilton. If you are curious, concerned or have been misled by detractors of the proposal come out and get the straight skinny! You can RSVP here. We will have a very special guest Tennessee, Senator Brian Kelsey. Senator Kelsey will give you first hand experience about how the Tennessee...
Read MoreObamacare Insurance Exchange Comes Through Back Door in Missouri
Brian Hook over at the Missouri WatchDog has a great posting providing videos of the Senate hearing in Kansas City last week on the Obamacare Insurance Exchange. One of the revelations is that Governor Nixon…through his Insurance Commissioner…through the Missouri Heath Insurance Pool (MHIP)…has back-doored the acceptance of the federal funds to establish the Health Insurance...
Read MoreTennessee Can Do It – Why Can’t We?
Missourians don’t have to wonder whether the tax reform proposal that would eliminate the individual income tax works or not. We have a real-world working model right next door in Tennessee. Not only has Tennessee “existed” without an income tax system, it has flourished. Tennessee has out-performed Missouri in almost every economic measure. Two videos help tell the Tennessee...
Read MoreLots on Tap this Weekend!
In addition to our Two Forums – One Vision event tonight in Springfield (RSVP here) there are several other notable events occurring this weekend in the Kansas City area. The first event is the NullifyNow conference Kansas City. We will be there with a booth and speaking at the event. Go to NullifyNow to signup! Also in the Kansas City area, the Reagan Ranch celebration is taking...
Read MoreTwo Forums – One Vision!
Tomorrow night, August 18, 2011 the first of two forums on the tax reform proposal will be held in the world headquarters of United for Missouri’s Future and United for Missouri in Springfield! If you are curious, concerned or have been misled by detractors of the proposal come out and get the straight skinny! You can RSVP...
Read MoreB-b-b-But It’s HIS Fault
All of us get various things via the e-mail circuit. Some of them are interesting to read. Some are silly. Some are stupid. Some are just plain wrong. But once in a while, one comes across that says what needs to be said. Below is one of those e-mails. (h/t Chuck McNabb) The Washington Post babbled again today about Obama inheriting a huge deficit from Bush. Amazingly enough, a lot of...
Read MoreDeal or No Deal
When asked whether he wanted to be remembered as a “politician” or a “statesman,” Harry Truman responded, “A politician is a man who understands government. A statesman is a politician who’s been dead for 15 years.” But James Freeman Clarke offered a different, more accurate definition: “A politician thinks of the next election — a statesman, of...
Read MoreNothing New: Government Competes with Private Sector
Tom Martz posted this story on Facebook: Heated Exchange Over Frozen Treat. As you read it, you start to understand how out-of-touch and blinded-to-fact some elected officials can become. The story centers on an ice cream vendor selling ice cream in an Ozark (MO) park. His offense was that the city park’s concession stand was open at the same time. Just what, you might ask, was the...
Read MoreMehlville Fire Protection District Wins Case to REDUCE Tax Rate
Amidst all of the loud discussion about raising the debt limit and taxes, the mainstream media has missed a story about cutting taxes, right here in Missouri. You won’t be surprised when you find out that the same mainstream media outlets published myriad articles regarding the “illegality” of the tax cut – yet neglected to report that this same tax cut was later found to...
Read MoreSt Charles County Council Improving Economy – Elsewhere
They are at again. The members of the St. Charles County Council have decided they want to improve the economy. Sounds good, considering our current economic times. Sounds good – until you realize they want to improve the economy in St. Louis County and drive Internet sales up! In my blog posting, St Charles County: Is it Still Conservative?, I wrote about the Council’s...
Read MoreDave Nicklaus Gets It Right
With this serious heat wave grabbing most of the public’s attention, it’s possible that you may have missed the announcement about the special session. A big part of the excitement surrounding this announcement is, for some, the Aerotropolis tax credit. The usual soundbites were heard and dutifully reported. But as a native Missourian, I’m going to have to be shown why this tax...
Read MoreWhat Sales Tax Holiday? Government Scrooges Take it Away!
Did you realize that a holiday is approaching in August? It’s called the “Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday,” and it takes place from August 5 to August 7. Well, it does for some communities, at least. Many other cities, counties and special taxing districts have decided to “opt out.” In other words, they’re raising your taxes for that weekend. The state...
Read MoreTax Reform Article in Missouri Record
We appreciate the Missouri Record publishing the following article on tax reform. It also spawned a KC Buzz posting from Dave Helling. July 13, 2011 08:40 AM Let me introduce you to my grandchildren, Sydney and Brady, who live in St. Charles County. Even at such an early age, they show so much potential. Sydney and Brady’s mom and dad are both professionals who earn nice livings—and pay...
Read MoreTennessee State and Local Tax Burden 80% of Missouri’s!
The National Tax Foundation (NTF) publishes a lot of great, helpful information regarding the impact of taxes throughout the 50 states. A couple of months ago, NTF published per capital rankings for state and local tax burdens. Not surprisingly, Missourians pay more in state and local taxes per capita than do our Tennessee neighbors. The NTF data shows that in 2009 (the most recent data...
Read MoreThe Father of the United States Constitution on Entitlement Programs
Eric Farris, of Branson, recently wrote a Facebook post that perfectly encapsulated the entire budget problem we have in our nation today: I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.- James Madison James Madison was the primary architect of the world’s...
Read MoreTax Reform: Another One Bites the Dust
Kansas - really? Yes - Kansas! It’s bad enough that Missouri loses businesses to Tennessee . . . but Kansas? The Kansas City Star reports that yet another Missouri company has left downtown Kansas City for the nearby Sprint Campus in Overland Park, KS. The reason for the move? In Kansas, the company gets to keep 95% of its employee payroll taxes. The employees still have to pay the taxes,...
Read MoreHappy 235th Birthday America
Today we celebrate our country’s 235th birthday. Here is a question for you to consider: Are you a Fourth of July patriot or a 365 patriot? Happy 4th!
Read MoreTax Reform: Honest Discussion – Hard for Opponents
There you go again - Ronald Reagan, 1980 During the 1980 presidential race, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan faced off in a debate. Carter accused Reagan of being against something and Reagan replied, “There you go again,” instantly making the phrase an enduring part of the American lexicon. The same can be said of opponents of tax reform in Missouri: There you go again! The...
Read MoreTax Reform: Debunking the “Won’t Raise Enough Money” Myth
The Missouri Jobs Act (MJA), an updated presentation can be found here, would replace the current state personal income tax with a broad base consumption tax. It would make Missouri more attractive to a broader base of citizens from retirees to companies looking for a great place to do business. You wouldn’t think there would be people against giving Missourians an instant and permanent...
Read MoreGov Perry “…You have to get rid of the personal income tax!” Video
YouTube Play Now | Play in Popup | Direct Link “If you want to compete, you have to get rid of the personal income tax!” – Governor Rick Perry (R-TX) I originally posted this quote in Tax Reform Topic of the Day Yesterday! Here is a video of one of the comments Gov Perry made about Missouri competing by getting rid of personal income tax. Listen closely at the beginning,...
Read MoreTax Reform Opponents Grasp for Effective Scare Tactics
Tuesday morning I participated in a presentation on the elimination of the personal income tax and replacing it with a consumer driven sales tax generically termed the Missouri Jobs Act (MJA). The opponents of making Missouri the economic engine of the midwest continue to try to tar and feather the proposal with spurious information and half-truths. The primary objective of these tactics is...
Read MoreTax Reform Topic of the Day Yesterday!
“If you want to compete, you have to get rid of the personal income tax!” – Governor Rick Perry (R-TX) I started my day yesterday by participating in a presentation regarding tax reform. More specifically the elimination of the personal income tax and replacing it with a consumer driven tax. Of course the opposition to tax reform was represented and continued to provide...
Read MoreCounty Executive Ehlmann Talks Smoking Ban Veto with Charlie Brennan
Charlie Brennan (KMOX) interviewed County Executive Steve Ehlmann about his veto of the proposed ballot measure establishing a county wide smoking ban in St Charles County. County Executive Ehlmann makes some excellent posts. Listen here
Read MoreReasoned Approach to Rainy Day Fund Use
Governor Nixon on Rainy Day Fund Play Now | Play in Popup | Direct Link Jason Rosenbaum has a video on his Capitol Calling blog of Governor Nixon discussing the use of the Rainy Day Fund. Regardless of your political persuasion, you have to tip your hat to the Governor’s measured approach. The Governor’s comments leave me a little concerned about government doing too much...
Read MoreSt Charles County: Big Government Intrusion – 1 | Liberty – 4
St Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann knocked a grand slam today with his veto of the proposed ballot issue to ban smoking county wide. It wasn’t just the fact he vetoed the bill, but he gave some very solid, CONSERVATIVE reasons to do so. Restores my faith in St Charles County Government! I don’t necessarily agree with everything in the veto letter, I don’t think there...
Read MoreMaking Missouri the Economic Engine of the Midwest
Come join us June 16, 2011 from 7-8pm at the Columns Banquet Center in St Charles to hear how Missouri can be the economic engine of...
Read MoreBudget Cuts and the Rainy Day Fund
Governor Jay Nixon has signed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 budget. The Missouri Constitution requires a balanced budget and gives the Governor the line item veto and the power to withhold if revenues are not sufficient to support the appropriated amounts. Governor Nixon has stated that many of his line item vetoes are necessary to provide disaster relief for Joplin and Southeast Missouri. The...
Read MoreTennessee Continues to Lead the Way on Tax Reform
Earlier this year, members of our Missouri Tiger Force team traveled to Memphis and Nashville to experience first hand the benefits of living in a no income tax state. (Tax Reform: The Sun is Shining in Tennessee) Senator Kelsey, featured in the video, recently sent out his end of session report. He followed up on the bill he referred to in the video regarding a constitutional amendment to...
Read MoreSt Charles County: Big Government Intrusion – 1 | Liberty – 0
One day, Saint Peter and Satan were arguing over whose responsibility it was to repair the fence between Heaven and Hell. After much discussion, Saint Peter tells Satan if he doesn’t fix the fence, he will sue. Satan’s response, “Where are you gonna get a lawyer?” Sadly, the constituents of St Charles County are facing a similar predicament. The St Charles County...
Read MoreSt Charles County Council – Vote for Liberty or Big Government Intrusion?
The St Charles County Council is scheduled to vote this evening on whether or not to place on the August 2012 ballot the “populist” county-wide smoking ban. I believe they have good intentions, but we all know where the road paved with good intentions leads to and this issue is no different. The proposed St Charles County smoking ban would eliminate smoking in all PRIVATE businesses...
Read MoreUSDA – We Are The Government & We Are Not Helping!
Most of us have been consumed by the terrible news from Joplin regarding the tornado. We have been encouraged by the response from not only the citizens of our great state but by the outpouring of support from around the country. We mourn as we see the death toll rise and rejoice as we see the stories of survivors found. As terrible and riveting as these circumstances are, life goes on in...
Read MoreThe Good, The Bad, The Ugly – 96th General Assembly
The Missouri General Assembly adjourned at the Constitutionally appointed hour of 6 p.m. on May 13, 2011. We can breathe a sigh of relief that they cannot enact any “good” ideas for a few more months. Given that United for Missouri’s issues revolve primarily around fiscal policy, there were some good ideas that passed, some bad ones and some very ugly ones this...
Read More“No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.”
The title quote is generally attributed to either Mark Twain or Gideon J. Tucker. As a native Missourian, I’ll go with Mark Twain. But in either case, the quote is as appropriate today as it was when it was first made. It’s especially apropos during this last week of the state legislative session. The last two weeks of session are filled with the most pressure and leverage....
Read MoreHow Much Borrowed Chinese $$$ Will We Spend?
This is the week: How much money will be spent in the FY2012 state budget? The overall spending will be nearly the same or a little less. The real question may very well be “How much borrowed Chinese money will be in the budget?” You may recall a few weeks ago, Senators Lembke, Nieves, Kraus and Schaaf filibustered the extension of unemployment benefits. They were doing the right...
Read MoreSt Charles County: Is it Still Conservative?
St Charles County, once one of the most conservative suburban counties in the state, appears to be losing that persona. The County Council has prepared big-government ordinances like those to ban smoking in private businesses. Fortunately, so far, they have not gone anywhere. Now the council is considering another “me too” feel-good statute to require prescriptions for cold and...
Read MoreTax Reform: County Commissioner Recognizes Value
Senator Luann Ridgeway presented Senate Committee Substitute (SCS) for Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 1 to the Missouri Senate Ways and Means Committee last week. One of the witnesses in support of SCS SJR1 was Beverly Thomas, County Commissioner from Camden County. Commissioner Thomas spoke about how she believed the tax reform proposal represented by SCS SJR1 would be beneficial to local...
Read MoreDesign for Natural Tensions Between House and Senate
This time of year there seems to be much hand wringing about the tension between the House and Senate. Every year it seems that some people are surprised by this tension. They shouldn’t be – it was designed to occur. The separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judicial branches in the national and state constitutions was intended to create a checks and balance...
Read MoreTax Reform: Sen Luann Ridgeway Tax Day Question
Senator Luann Ridgeway announced her version of tax reform on tax day, April 18, 2011. She may have a problem with her bill though – it makes too much sense and challenges big government supporters!
Read MoreNational Popular Vote – Good for a Democracy, Bad for a Republic!
A movement that has been around for some time but has recently picked up some steam sounds good to people – elect the President of the United States by popular vote. The problem with their premise is that this is an action of pure democracy and we live in a Republic – on purpose. Here’s how the proposal would work. Missouri would join other states in a compact that would say...
Read MoreProp B Now Does What Most Voters Thought It Did!
Proposition B was passed with the idea that it protected dogs from cruel and inhumane treatment. It wasn’t a surprise that given the misleading information that was provided about Prop B that it passed – the surprise is that is passed with so little support. I know some good people who think SB113 decimates Prop B. I disagree. The passage of Senate Bill (SB) 113 resulted in the...
Read MoreCapitol Tax Day Rally Video: Herman Cain
So many people had and have expressed regret that they could not attend along with hundreds of their fellow patriots Tuesday’s Capitol Tax Day Rally featuring Herman Cain. The good news is – you may not have been able to attend but you do not have to miss out on the excellent speech given by Mr. Cain! Enjoy. Here is an updated listing of TEA Party events that we have been made...
Read MoreUpdated: Upcoming TEA Party Listings
Here is an updated listing of TEA Party events that we have been made aware of to date. If you have knowledge of others, please send to carl@unitedformissouri.org. Fri. April 15th Branson TEA Party 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Both sides of Highway 76 (the Strip) from the Fall Creek intersection to Applebees. The central meeting point is at the entrance to Area 57 (1610 West Highway 76) next to...
Read MoreJoin Herman Cain at the Capitol Tax Day Rally – April 12, 2011
Come be a part of history on April 12th. Register now for the Capitol Tax Day Rally! Listen to Jamie Allman announce the event on 97.1 and talk with Herman Cain: Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser. Listen to Mike Ferguson talk with Herman Cain on 93.9...
Read MoreWhat Election? Real Special Interests Involved and Attacks on Freedom
Tomorrow across the state the polls will be open, but what will the turnout be in various areas across the state? It is these primarily non-partisan elections that determine the direction of most local spending in fire districts, ambulance districts, school districts, cities, etc. Unfortunately, a lot of voters don’t realize what is at stake in these elections. United for Missouri and...
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