MISSOURI HOUSE APPROVES STATE FAIR TAX CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, SENDS RESOLUTION TO STATE SENATE

In a development of potential national significance, the Missouri House of Representatives, on April 16, 2009, sent a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution, HJR36 (copy attached), to the state Senate that, if enacted, would bring a state-level Fair Tax to Missouri.

The sponsor of the bill, Edgar G. Emery (R-Missouri District 126, Lamar), advised me yesterday he thinks the bill has a reasonable chance of passage in the state Senate. There is no definite time table yet there - the resolution has had its first reading. However the passage of the proposal in the state House has enhanced the profile of the bill in the state Senate.

If the state Senate approves, the measure will be submitted to the voters of the State in November 2010 without need for consideration by the Governor.

If approved by the voters, the measure would take effect on January 1, 2012, and Missouri would become the first laboratory in the United States - and perhaps the world - to test the macro-economic benefits of the Fair Tax.

New Jersey FairTax State Co-Director, engineer and business owner, Norm Simms, has stated frequently that his decisions on where to site production are sensitive to tax climate. If the state FairTax passes, businesses would be expected to seriously consider locating - or relocating - to Missouri.

Credit for the success of this effort goes to the Missouri FairTax supporters.