Issue Position: Tax Reduction and Reform

Issue Position

I support eliminating the state income tax and replacing it with a tax on commerce, such as the Fair Tax. The income tax is one of the least efficient and regressive tax structures possible. It is inefficient because it creates disincentives to earn more money by taxing every dollar earned. It is regressive because it favors existing money, especially the large fortunes of the wealthy, over new money, which is the income being earned by poor and middle class workers. A commerce tax treats new and old money equally by only taxing it when it is spent. Since a commerce tax creates incentives for thrift and savings it is highly efficient. Our nation was founded on a system of commerce taxes. Income taxes were not imposed without interruption in Missouri until 1917 and there is no reason to keep imposing them today. We can raise the revenue needed to fund our state's priorities in a fairer, more efficient way that will foster economic growth instead of suppressing growth

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