Missouri can grow while phasing out income tax responsibly | Opinion

As a veteran, a former state senator and the sponsor of Missouri’s landmark income tax cut, I’ve heard every prediction about what would happen if we lowered the tax burden on hardworking Missourians. A decade later, one thing is clear: The doomsday stories never came true.

What did happen was straightforward. Missouri’s economy grew. Revenues increased. And we were able to fund our schools at record levels, all while allowing families and small businesses to keep more of what they earned. Lower tax rates led to higher income tax collections over time, rising from roughly $6.9 billion to more than $9 billion annually. That is not theory. That is Missouri’s real experience.

We approached tax relief responsibly. We phased reforms in, paired reductions with safeguards and avoided the rushed, last-minute changes that caused instability elsewhere. When tax policy is done thoughtfully, it strengthens the state’s economy. Missouri proved that.

Lowering the income tax is not about partisan politics. It is about growth. States that reward work instead of penalizing it are attracting new families, new jobs and new investment. States without income taxes are among the fastest growing in the country, and Missouri should aim to compete.

I served with Gov. Mike Kehoe in the Missouri Senate. He is methodical, data-driven and inclusive. Anyone suggesting he wants to harm the state and the most vulnerable among us simply has not worked with him.

Missouri has already shown that a lower income tax and a strong budget can go hand in hand. We can build on that success, continue rewarding work and create an economy where every Missourian has the opportunity to get ahead.

Will Kraus is a veteran, a former member of the state tax commission and a former state senator for Jackson County.