Primary Day, in Missouri, is also Amendment Day, and the most important Amendment priority for Governor Kehoe (R) didn’t do well:
Missouri voters have rejected Amendment 5, declining to give lawmakers a blank check to raise or expand sales taxes, something some lawmakers sought to enable enormous income tax cuts for the state’s wealthiest households. By doing so, voters in the Show-Me State set a positive example for states around the country, turning away from what would have been one of the most damaging tax policy changes in any state in recent years.
Otherwise divided voters were united in rejecting redistributing taxes away from the wealthy, with just 17 percent of voters casting their ballots in favor. Despite a well-funded campaign and no signs of wholesale rejection of their elected leaders, Missourians across the state rejected their governor’s biggest priority. [ITEP]
A symptom of one of the toxic influences on Republican politics. If rich people want to reduce their relative tax burden, then raise corporate taxes. They’ll pass on their additional tax burden to their customers, because heaven forbid their investors take the hit, and it’ll be quite popular.
If the Republicans want to become unpopular, keep on trying to undertax the wealthy. It’s a bit like splashing one’s self with hot tar and then jumping in a lake. Splash splash.
