Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (r) [file photo].

Governor Jay Nixon (D) issued a veto of SB 509 on Thursday with a detailed rebuttal of the dogma contained in the bill.

Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (r) defended SB 509 with the usual platitudes in a press release issued along with his weekly e-mail “Capitol Report”:

NEWS

From the Office of

Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins

54 District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 1, 2014

[….]

Governor Nixon Vetoes SB 509

JEFFERSON CITY- On May 1st, the afternoon of his deadline to take action on Senate Bill 509, Governor Nixon announced his veto of the legislation. This bill would help Missouri citizens and businesses alike by providing broad-based tax relief.

The Republican majority in the Missouri Legislature has consistently worked toward reducing the tax burden and has rallied around Senate Bill 509. By simplifying the bill and keeping the scope to income taxes they eliminated many concerns that divided the party with previous tax cut legislation, allowing them to provide a unified front against Governor Nixon’s assaults.

“I have consistently and vocally endorsed reducing the tax burden in Missouri, and Senate Bill 509 is no different,” said Hoskins. “I am disappointed Governor Nixon chooses to play political games instead of engaging in productive policy discussions about tax relief. I am confident our Republican majority will be able to stick together and overturn the veto on this measure, which would incentivize economic growth and keep more money in the pockets of hard-working Missouri families.”

Governor Nixon did not deliver notice of his veto before the General Assembly adjourned for the week, preventing them from immediately taking the measure up for a veto override. The veto override of Senate Bill 509 will likely be taken up for consideration next week.

“…I am disappointed Governor Nixon chooses to play political games instead of engaging in productive policy discussions about tax relief. I am confident our Republican majority will be able to stick together and overturn the veto on this measure, which would incentivize economic growth and keep more money in the pockets of hard-working Missouri families…”

A few excerpts of what Governor Nixon (D) actually said in his veto (Go, read the whole thing):

“…This unaffordable, unfair and potentially dangerous legislation will…provide extraordinary benefits to the few with little for the many…”

“…Moreover, a two-year delay before the tax cuts take effect contradicts the economic argument advanced by proponents that immediate tax relief is needed in order to stimulate economic growth…”

“…In addition, the legislation’s annual cost would continue to grow above the legislature’s $620 million annual estimate because the income bracket adjustments in the bill for increases in the consumer price index would continue indefinitely…”

“…A special carve-out like this rewards tax avoidance without concomitant economic activity and makes our tax code less efficient without any empirical evidence that it would improve our economy…”

“…No legislation that gives two taxpayers with identical incomes – one who happens to own a business and one who happens to work at one – such drastically different tax treatments can be called fair…”

“…the General Assembly not once, but twice in just over four pages of legislative text eliminated the reference to an income tax for individuals with taxable income in the top tax bracket….”

“…This means that lawmakers must enact laws, not merely ideas for a court to one day mold into something workable. The words on the page are what matter, for those are the words that guide the conduct of Missourians. The test is not what individual legislators say they meant – the test is what the words actually say…”

“…it could be years from now before the court upon which legislators have pinned their hopes determines whether a taxpayer is correct that his or her income tax was eliminated by this bill…”

“…Although by the time most of the legislators who voted for this bill will no longer be in the General Assembly, it will nonetheless be their handiwork that lies in wait to undermine the fiscal foundation of our state…”

“…Risking the long term fiscal stability of the state, our perfect AAA credit rating, funding for our education system, and the future of our economy on what a judge might someday do is an unconscionable dereliction of duty, a disservice to the people of Missouri, and one in which I will not be complicit…”

That would be the equivalent of “let’s use water on the crops”.

And the right wingnut republican controlled General Assembly consistently replies: “Because Brawndo’s got electrolytes.”

Previously:  

New Missouri Rule: if the governor governs right of center you can’t call him a “liberal” (July 1, 2013)

Bill signing Kabuki (July 12, 2013)

Rep. Chris Kelly (D): HB 253 – “I’d like to know what your opinion is.” (July 19, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): probably not gonna sustain the Governor’s veto of HB 253 (August 19, 2013)

Sec. of State Jason Kander (D) to Texas Gov. Rick Perry (r): You forgot about that Medicaid thing? (August 23, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) to UCM on HB 253: I don’t care, I’d rather be the new Speaker Pro Tem (August 24, 2013)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): your constituents know what you’re doing to them (August 26, 2013)

HB 253: Because those dissolute leeches at the public trough should shut up, that’s why! (August 28, 2013)

Missouri Democratic Party on HB 253: Yes, yes, let’s talk about Texas Gov. Rick Perry (r)…. (August 28, 2013)

AG Chris Koster (D) to Speaker Jones (r) on HB 253: you all certainly made a mess of things… (August 29, 2013)

Speaker Tim Jones (r) and HB 253: hone your legal analytical skills litigating birth certificates (August 30, 2013)

HB 253: any way you slice it (September 11, 2013)

HB 253: Watch out – It’ll be baaaaaaaaaack (September 11, 2013)

SB 509: once more, with feeling (April 17, 2014)

SB 509: “….We’d like to think that most of them are not simpletons….” (April 18, 2014)

SB 509: Governor Jay Nixon (D) strikes back (April 22, 2014)

SB 509: dueling on Twitter (April 22, 2014)

SB 509: Would you like some whine with your bill? (April 23, 2014)

SB 509: strange gyrations (April 23, 2014)

The Missouri GOP, Evel Knievel and political stuntsmanship (April 24, 2014)

SB 509: the folks back home ain’t buying what they’re selling (April 24, 2014)

SB 509: in a wingnutshell (April 28, 2014)

SB 509: the folks back home ain’t buying what they’re selling – part 2 (April 29, 2014)

SB 509: thank the FSM (or the deity of your choice) for Kansas (May 1, 2014)

SB 509: veto it is (May 1, 2014)

SB 509: Governor Jay Nixon’s (D) Veto (May 2, 2014)

SB 509: That’s a mighty interesting legal citation you got there… (May 2, 2014)