Fairness and Prosperity

Like many of you, I cringed as another April 15th came and went. While Brigit and I filed our taxes earlier this year, that day is no longer just another beautiful spring day in a long line of beautiful spring days. Instead, it’s another reminder that we work and toil all year, only to have the government come in and forcefully take the fruits of our labor. Additionally, it forces us to spend an ungodly amount of time figuring out our payments to the state.

That’s why I was proud to vote in favor of HJR 36 today. HJR 36 is better known as the Fair Tax. It will propose a constitutional amendment, to be voted on by you to replace Missouri’s entire tax system—individual income, corporate income, sales, and use—with a simple and fair state sales tax of 5.11% on retail sales and taxable services. Should you choose to adopt this system, we will make the transition to a sales-tax only state beginning January 1, 2012. The structure of the bill also prevents disadvantages by providing a rebate to low-income and larger families, which will be equal to the rate of sales tax for an amount equal to the federal poverty level for that family. This rebate will help ensure that low-income Missourians are not being taxed on the goods and services which they have to use in order to survive.

The benefits are numerous. Our current system is a Rubik’s Cube to even the most trained professional. In order for your employer to determine how much of your income they have to withhold for taxes, they first have to look at what you make, and then at where you live, and then if you drive a hybrid car, and the list goes on. Your pay can fluctuate from week to week, even if there is no change in your wage. With the Fair Tax, the only calculations needing to be done are for federal taxes. As far as Missouri goes, your full pay is your take-home pay. Your employer, and every other business owner around the state, can then save that money wasted on tracking and paying income and franchise taxes, and instead use those dollars to expand, increase productivity, and provide additional benefits to employees. The rebates provided in this system would greatly benefit lower-income families who would keep more of their paychecks and have most, if not all, of their paid sales tax returned to them—turning the rebate and the tax into what amounts to a significant pay raise. Further, this new switch to a system that encourages hard work will see a boost in productivity, as more of the results of their labor gets returned back to them rather than the government. Finally, we would be switching to a system that taxes consumption and not income. No person should ever be taxed simply for the act of working to provide for their family.

In the end, I’m confident that the Fair Tax will transform our overly-complex system into one easily understood by all Missourians. This would be a much more accessible, and, as the name implies, fair. Most importantly, you would decide whether to save or spend your income in whatever way you choose. To me, that is the best and fairest system of taxation possible.

Protecting Missourians

We also spent a significant amount of time this week working on a bill that is also of great interest to me, one which I’ve heard a lot of support for from the people of our district, and was proud to cosponsor and prouder to vote for. HB 152 expands the role of Missouri’s criminal DNA database to include those arrested for violent felonious crimes against a person. Currently, statute only collects the DNA of those convicted or pleading guilty or no contest to sexual crimes.

In the state of California, Chester Turner was arrested for assault with a firearm. Unfortunately, there was not enough substantial evidence to convict him and he was set free. After that, he was arrested a total of twenty-one times and later convicted of rape. At that time, his DNA was taken and put on file. His DNA matched twelve other rape and murder victims. Had Chester Turner’s DNA been taken when he was arrested the first time, it is probable that eleven of his victims would still be alive. This disturbing story caught the attention of several lawmakers nationwide, causing many to realize the importance of DNA testing – even on crimes as common as burglary and assault.

In 2006, there were 80,000 violent crimes committed in Missouri. There were 1,500 rapes in 2007. Over 500 of those rapes were to children under the age of six. The numbers speak for themselves. There was no question in our mind – something had to be done. That is why we introduced and passed House Bill 152 this week--a bill I was proud to cosponsor.

HB152 expands the current law in Missouri, requiring a DNA cheek swab of any arrestees related to violent, sexual or burglary charges. That sample will then be added to his or her file. Presently, seventeen states have passed this including Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas. In addition, thirteen more states are currently considering it.

The main opposition calls this procedure an “invasion of privacy”. Privacy is an important issue to address, but these people have broken the law, and some in the most vile manner. In my opinion, having their DNA on file could be life-saving and is worth fighting for.

I hope you will stand behind me on this legislation and support HB152. Case studies and vast research have proven that this procedure produces good, positive results. Many states have saved thousands of lives through this simple step in the right direction. We hope to make Missouri one of them.

As always, please contact me if you have any thoughts or concerns.

Working With You,
Mark