This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Aug. 9, 2013 - Amid the continued battle over his veto of a tax-cut bill, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon dismissed new attacks against him as evidence that the opponents are losing the argument.
“Any time folks are trying to make personal attacks … it shows you they are not comfortable with their substantive attacks,” Nixon said in a brief telephone interview Thursday. “So it’s actually good news.”
Nixon was responding to a question about an anti-Nixon video launched this week by United for Missouri, a conservative group that is part of a coalition campaigning to persuade legislators – and the public – to support an override of Nixon’s veto of HB 253. That's the tax cut bill that trims business taxes by 50 percent over 10 years, with a smaller cut in individual income tax rates.
Backers say the bill will promote economic growth. Nixon points to provisions that impose sales taxes on prescription drugs and text books, a hike that will cost taxpayers $200 million a year. He also focuses on another provision that provides a $260 million tax cut for “pass-through income’’ that he says primarily benefits lawyers and lobbyists.
The video, circulating on social media, brings up previous controversies involving Nixon's administration and accuses him of misleading the public then – and now. United for Missouri says some footage may end up in a TV spot before the General Assembly convenes for its veto session on Sept. 11.
Nixon brushed off the video jab.
“If their best attack is to change the subject as to why they are raising taxes on seniors and school kids, and why the bill has passed with special tax breaks to some, while putting in peril money to education, then that’s a good sign,’’ the governor said.
Nixon then concluded with a chuckle: “Other than that, ‘no comment.’ ”
