Says Raising Food Taxes on Families Not ‘Solid Step Forward’ for Missouri Economy
Governor Jay Nixon is criticizing the proposed “Almost Everything Tax” because it would lead to dramatic increases in sales taxes on groceries and other essentials purchased by Missouri families.
"The bottom line is, I don't support raising taxes on groceries and other critical things that families need. I mean, making families pay more for bread and milk doesn't seem like a solid step forward for our economy,” Governor Nixon said in luncheon remarks to journalists in Jefferson City on Thursday.
The “Almost Everything Tax” is a proposed state constitutional amendment that would dump Missouri’s personal income tax and replace it with much broader, much higher state and local sales taxes. The proposal advanced by wealthy retired investor Rex Sinquefield is deceptively called the “Missouri Taxpayer Relief Act,” when it would actually put new and higher sales taxes on almost everything Missouri families buy every day.
Under the “Almost Everything Tax,” Missouri’s state sales tax on groceries would more than quadruple. The current state sales tax on groceries is 1.225 percent. The “Almost Everything Tax” would boost the state grocery sales tax to 5.5 percent – a roughly 450 percent tax increase on purchases of the same gallon of milk and the same loaf of bread.
The “Almost Everything Tax” is particularly tough on lower- and middle-income Missourians, while senior citizens who get by on pensions and Social Security that are not subject to income tax would have to pay higher grocery bills while receiving no tax relief.
To learn more about the “Almost Everything Tax,” visit Missourians for Fair Taxation at www.DeclineToSign.org
