For some reason Governor Nixon has not been receptive of the tax breaks passed by the Republican-led Legislature in Missouri. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the tax breaks seek to aid members of the military, the disabled community, farmers affected by disaster, and businesses looking to move to Missouri. Instead of giving a much-needed break to Missourians, Nixon has decided to fight the legislature on these common sense tax breaks by punishing the hardworking people of Missouri.

Missouri’s Republican-led Legislature this year passed tax breaks for goods and services ranging from wheelchairs to yoga classes, setting up a potential showdown with Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon over what he said could lead to a hole in the state budget.

Some of the common sense tax breaks passed by the Legislature include an income tax deduction for federal agricultural disaster payments, an income tax deduction for income earned during active duty military service, a sales tax exemption for wheelchairs, and a 50 percent tax deduction for relocating costs for businesses moving to Missouri.

The tax breaks would take the unreasonable burden off many hardworking families and businesses. While Nixon claims the tax breaks could cost the state $80 million, Legislative researchers have projected the costs at a much lower number:

Nixon said the measures could cost as much as $80 million, but backers say Nixon’s cost estimate is overblown. Legislative researchers project that the tax breaks cited by the governor will cost closer to $22 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Governor Nixon should be taking the burden off of the people of Missouri instead of penalizing those who need the tax break the most. Nixon should be supporting families and promoting new business to the state, instead Nixon continues to shun the needs of the people in favor of playing politics with the most baffling of issues.