The Missouri Minute – Episode 36
The Missouri Minute - Episode 36 [ 31:28 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (14) This week on the Missouri Minute: Carl Bearden and Woody Cozad record live. Today: Kansas City Judge Private Eye Woes, Missouri Broadcasters don’t know how to do research, and down with the Missouri income tax! You can contact the hosts by emailing missouriminute@unitedformissouri.org or by sending us...
Read MoreGone With the Wind and the Missouri Broadcasters Association
What do the Missouri Broadcasters’ Association (MBA) radio ads regarding the tax reform proposal known as the Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act (MTRA) and Gone With the Wind have in common? Well, for starters, they are both works of fiction. Gone with the Wind was based on events immediately prior to, during and immediately following the Civil War. The book and the movie were certainly based on...
Read MoreThe Missouri Minute – STL Valedictorian Blues – Episode 35
The Missouri Minute - STL Valedictorian Blues - Episode 35 [ 37:26 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (8) This week on the Missouri Minute: Carl Bearden and Woody Cozad record live. Today: Saint Louis School failings, Kansas City construction woes, and the MO income tax. You can contact the hosts by emailing missouriminute@unitedformissouri.org or by sending us a message on...
Read MoreIt’s Easy to Create Fear But Not so Easy to Tell Truth for Some
I couldn’t help but notice while I was taking some time off the creation of another group opposing giving Missourian’s control over their taxation. They sounded authoritative, almost like they knew something the rest of us don’t know about tax reform. Hoping to learn something, I read their missives, er, I mean their press release and interviews only to find it to be deja vu all...
Read MoreThe Missouri Minute – Episode 34
Standard Podcast [ 36:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (8) This week on the Missouri Minute: Carl Bearden and Woody Cozad record live. Today: KC School failings and the KS and MO income taxes. You can contact the hosts by emailing missouriminute@unitedformissouri.org or by sending us a message on twitter @United4MO or @Senator32 or by visiting http://www.cozadcompany.com/ or...
Read MoreAn Inauspicious End to a Not-So-Special Session
The leaders of the Senate finally delivered what many thought should have happened a long time ago: the death of the not so special session. The House will meet tomorrow, presumably to put their finishing touches on the session, but with the Senate’s Sine Die action yesterday, what the House does at this point is irrelevant. As a former Speaker Pro Tem, that’s not easy to write...
Read MoreThe Missouri Minute – Episode 33
The Missouri Minute - Episode 33 [ 29:33 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (9) This week on the Missouri Minute: Carl Bearden and Woody Cozad record live. Today: Income Tax, World Series, and Kansas City! You can contact the hosts by emailing missouriminute@unitedformissouri.org or by sending us a message on twitter @United4MO or @Senator32 or...
Read MoreThe Missouri Minute – Episode 32
Standard Podcast [ 25:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (9) This week on the Missouri Minute: Carl Bearden and Woody Cozad record live. You can contact the hosts by emailing missouriminute@unitedformissouri.org or by sending us a message on twitter @United4MO or @Senator32 or by visiting http://www.cozadcompany.com/ or...
Read MoreTax Reform Can Transform Missouri to be the Economic Engine of the Midwest!
The folks at Let Voters Decide are hosting a free reception featuring Dr. Art Laffer to discuss how the proposed tax reform measure, the Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act, will transform Missouri’s economy. You can RSVP to this free event...
Read MoreKZRG – Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act
KZRG October 12, 2011 Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (28) Thanks to Josh Marsh and Chad Elliott for having me on to discuss the Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act for tax reform!
Read MoreThe Missouri Minute – Going to Nashville – Episode 31
Going to Nashville [ 30:13 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (19) This week on the Missouri Minute: Carl Bearden and Woody Cozad record live. Today’s topics include: Going to Nashville, the Missouri state income tax, and jobs! You can contact the hosts by emailing missouriminute@unitedformissouri.org or by sending us a message on twitter @United4MO or @Senator32 or...
Read MoreThe Missouri Minute – Episode 30
The Missouri Minute - Episode 30 [ 32:16 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (17) This week on the Missouri Minute: Carl Bearden and Woody Cozad record live. Today’s topics include: The Special Session, Obama, and Earnings Taxes. You can contact the hosts by emailing missouriminute@unitedformissouri.org or by sending us a message on twitter @United4MO or @Senator32 or...
Read MorePresident Obama Collects on Stimulus Friends and Family Plan
Update for Mid-MO: A bus will be departing from the East side of the Hearnes Center at 3pm. Expected return time around 9pm. For more information, Facebook users click here.Otherwise, click here.The stimulus package benefited many Democrat donors. On Tuesday, October 4th, Barack Obama will attend a $25,000-per person fundraiser at the home of Tom Carnahan on Lindell...
Read MoreSpecial Session or Not? We Have Our Answer
When I posted Special Session or Not? I admit I had rather low expectations of much good coming from the Governor’s call for a special session. So far, unfortunately, those expectations have been met. I’m actually surprised that here we are, nearly one month later, and the legislature is still in special session. The initial media reports echoed a common refrain: that there was...
Read MoreThe Missouri Minute – Facebook, Special Session, and Nixon – Episode 29
The Missouri Minute - Facebook, Special Session, and Nixon - Episode 29 [ 31:21 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (22) This week on the Missouri Minute: Carl Bearden and Woody Cozad record live. Today’s topics include: Facebook, Special Session, and Nixon! You can contact the hosts by emailing missouriminute@unitedformissouri.org or by sending us a message on...
Read MoreThe Missouri Minute – Episode 28
The Missouri Minute - Episode 28 [ 24:16 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (16) This week on the Missouri Minute: Carl Bearden and Woody Cozad record live. Today’s topics include: The Special Session, the Aerotropolis, The State Income Tax, and More! You can contact the hosts by emailing missouriminute@unitedformissouri.org or by sending us a message on...
Read MoreBackdoor Health Insurance Exchange Update
Late last week, there was an attempt by the Missouri Health Insurance Pool (MHIP) to accept a $21 million grant to establish the Obamacare mandated health insurance exchange. Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder reported on the Dana Show about the activities that took place, and he references an executive order by the Governor to complete the action. Listen for the discussion at about...
Read MoreURGENT – Stop Obamacare in Missouri!
UPDATE: Callers should be aware the Governor’s office is now telling people the Governor was never going to sign an executive order. After the debacle yesterday where he was apparently going to rely on the actions of an “independent” commission, I would say he probably isn’t going to do it now either! Keep calling! Here is the action alert we just sent out to...
Read MoreBurnham’s Law – Missouri Association of REALTORS®
“Eventually, any large organization comes to serve the interests of its permanent staff.” – The Managerial Revolution by James Burnham (paraphrased) Yesterday, we wrote about those “Henny Pennys” (you know, the ones who shout, “The sky is falling!” when presented with any new idea) who support not only a big government trough but also an expansion of the trough. Today...
Read MoreOpponents 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 MoreThe Missouri Minute – Episode 26
The Missouri Minute - Episode 26 [ 26:22 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (11) This week on the Missouri Minute: Carl Bearden and Woody Cozad record live. Today’s topics include: The Special Session, the Kansas City School Board, and More! You can contact the hosts by emailing missouriminute@unitedformissouri.org or by sending us a message on twitter @United4MO or @Senator32 or...
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 MoreThe Missouri Minute – Episode 25 – Local Control, Income Taxes, and Rick Perry
The Missouri Minute - Episode 25 [ 25:02 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (23) This week on the Missouri Minute: Carl Bearden and Woody Cozad record live. Today’s topics include: The Special Session, Local Control, the State Income Tax, Rick Perry, and More! You can contact the hosts by emailing missouriminute@unitedformissouri.org or by sending us a message on twitter @United4MO...
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 MoreThe President’s Politically Calculated Definition of Fair
Well, the “deal” is done. President Obama gets an “F” for his lack of leadership, and Congress is right there with him! Republicans and Democrats alike failed to address the real issue of spending. This is not the “deal” we needed. It only temporarily addresses the problem. By the end of the “deal” timeframe – 2021 – our debt will be somewhere between 76 and 100% of our...
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 MoreMemorial Day: many ways to remember our Service Members
How will you honor service members this Memorial Day? Memorial Day sprung out of the loss of loved ones during the Civil War – so while we have images in recent decades of soldiers traveling overseas to serve, it’s worthwhile to remember that some of the first Memorial Day observances were about our country’s reconciliation. In an era marked by civil wars and often-violent struggles in...
Read MoreDavid and Goliath States
Monsanto, headquartered in Missouri, is considering an expansion, and Iowa has come a-courtin’. Monsanto employs about 4,100 people in the St. Louis area, and Missouri is trying to throw a tax credit-festooned hat into the ring. Legislation last session hoped to revive the research and development tax credit to offset a company’s R&D costs. The R&D tax credit program was abolished...
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