This article originally appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Aug. 14, 2013 - : A coalition backing the tax-cut bill vetoed by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is bringing in a friendlier counterpart – Texas Gov. Rick Perry – as part of its campaign to persuade the public and state legislators to support an override of Nixon’s action.
The Grow Missouri Coalition is announcing that Perry – Texas' longest serving governor -- will be in the St. Louis area on Aug. 29 for “a day of meetings and appearances…to discuss pro-growth policies.”
Perry’s visit will include a public event, from 5-7 p.m., at the Double Tree hotel in Chesterfield. According to a release, “tickets are free but required and may be reserved on the Grow Missouri website.”
“We are honored to have Gov. Perry visit Missouri and grateful for his willingness to share his wealth of wisdom on how taxes impact a state’s economic health,” said Carl Bearden, executive director of United for Missouri, among several groups lobbying hard for a veto override.
“As we near our legislature’s special veto session, Gov. Perry’s insights could not be better timed and will serve as a wake-up call for all Missourians to give serious thought to what we want the future of our state to look like – and to warn against the very real dangers of doing nothing.”
A coalition spokesman emphasized that Perry will be talking about Texas "and the amazing economic growth they have had in his state" and not specifically about HB253 or the override effort. Still, the coalition is making clear that Texas is among its models as it advances its message in favor of an override.
In its announcement of Perry's visit, Grow Missouri highlights that Texas “ranks No. 1 in job creation, No. 1 in exports and has been named Best State for Business nine years in a row by Chief Executive magazine.”
“The fact is that Missouri has been losing $44 million of wealth to Texas each year,” said Aaron Willard, treasurer of the Grow Missouri Coalition. “Some of our neighboring states, in particular, are really getting aggressive about reforming their tax codes. Missouri can expect to continue to bleed jobs and wealth and population to other more economically attractive states, like Texas, unless Missouri takes steps like overriding the veto of House Bill 253, which will provide tax relief for all Missourians and make the state more competitive with other states.”
Nixon has been locked in verbal combat with many Republican supporters of HB253. Grow Missouri is among the supporters who are fielding more than $2 million in TV and radio ads, paid for by wealthy financier Rex Sinquefield.
Texas has become the prime example for advocates in various states, including Missouri, who seek to do away with state income taxes.
Texas’ government services are primarily financed with sales taxes and local property taxes. Texas’ state sales tax rate is 6.25 percent, with local jurisdictions barred for tacking more than 2 percent, for a maximum total rate of 8.25 percent.
(In Missouri, the state sales tax rate is 4.225 percent, with unlimited local and regional additions. The highest rate in Missouri in some jurisdictions is 9.6 percent.)
Perry’s appearance at Double Tree is co-sponsored by Americans for Prosperity, Missouri River Township Republicans, Chesterfield Township Republicans, Missouri Club for Growth, Grow Missouri Coalition, Queeny Township Republicans, Lafayette Township Republicans, United for Missouri, Meramec Township Republicans and Wild Horse Township Republicans.
Perry was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for president in 2012. He then campaigned in Missouri last summer and fall for several Missouri candidates for statewide office, including now-state GOP chairman Ed Martin, who had been the party's 2012 nominee for attorney general.
Perry last tangled with Nixon in 2011 when the two made dueling bets during the World Series that fall, which saw the St. Louis Cardinals take on -- and defeat -- the Texas Rangers.
