State rep. says he listened to constituents in rejecting tax cut veto override

Even though he broke ranks with the Republican House leadership on a state income tax cut, District 151 state Rep. Dennis Fowler, R-Advance, Mo., believes he represented the interests of his constituents in his home district.

His first regular legislative session and a session to consider veto overrides are behind him. Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed 33 bills, and the Republican-controlled Legislature voted to override 10 of them in the Sept. 11 session. It was historic in terms of the number of vetoes. It also proved there was enough division among Republicans to prevent the supermajority from handing Nixon a stinging defeat.

Fowler was one of 15 GOP members who crossed party lines and voted to let Nixon's veto of House Bill 253 stand. The bill would have reduced Missouri's corporate tax rate from 6.25 percent to 3.25 percent and its top tax rate for individuals from 6 percent to 5.5 percent over the next decade if state revenue continued to rise by at least $100 million annually. It also contained a five-year phase-in for a new 50 percent tax deduction for business income reported on individual tax returns.

Fowler enjoyed his first session in the Legislature, and stood his ground on the tax cut.

"I didn't vote for it during the session," Fowler said. "I wasn't going to change my mind in the veto override session."

Fowler objected to portions of the bill that would have levied a sales tax on prescription drugs and college textbooks. He also was concerned about the bill's effect on funding for public education. He wanted the bill rewritten and "cleaned up." He believes the proposal will be back in the next session, and if changes are made, he would support it. He would also like to see the 14-page bill slimmed down and written in understandable language.

"I'm not sure I even understood it," Fowler said.

Asked about any new attempt to cut income taxes, Fowler said: "I would have to see what the bill says. It is going to have to address the problem of providing funding for public education."

Fowler said he received calls and emails about the bill. A statewide campaign, largely funded by a $2.4 million contribution from retired investment firm executive Rex Sinquefield, blitzed the media. The attention the bill received caused about 300 people to contact his office to oppose the bill, while there were maybe 15 who contacted him in support.

"I heard from everyone from college professors to kindergarten teachers," Fowler said.

He also did not agree with the idea the Legislature should override the veto and enact the income tax cut, then "go back and fix it."

"That's Nancy Pelosi kind of thinking," Fowler said.

Fowler will go to Jefferson City, Mo., on Oct. 14 to meet with Rep. T.J. Berry, who sponsored the bill. Fowler said Berry, who is from the Kansas City, Mo., area, wants to meet with all the GOP members who broke ranks and voted to uphold the veto. Fowler said he is hopeful some of his concerns can be addressed if the bill is to be rewritten. He also will meet the all the superintendents of all school districts in the county Oct. 17 to hear their concerns.

Fowler viewed some of the proceedings during the veto override session as being more for theatrics. He said it seemed the GOP leadership was more interested in "shoving the vetoes in Nixon's face" than in the issues themselves. It was partisan politics, he said.

"It seemed to be a numbers game from the beginning," Fowler said. "They just wanted to see if they had the votes to thwart the governor."

Fowler also said he believes the leadership was more into politics than the issues.

"The whole tax-reduction thing was more of a sound bite for those seeking higher office, irregardless of whether it passed or not," Fowler said. "They could go back and say they had supported a tax cut.

"I'm not worried about their campaigns," he said.

Fowler supported the bill that would have nullified some federal gun-control laws. He knew the bill was primarily a statement and would not hold up in courts, but he ran for office promising he would support the rights of gun owners. Enough votes were garnered for the House to override the veto, but it failed in the Senate, with both of the top GOP leaders voting against it.

In retrospect, Fowler said it was a very exciting session. The money and the attention spent on HB 253 was the highlight of the session.

"Everyone had a dog in this fight," Fowler said. "There were very few unbiased people on the issue."

Fowler believes he listened to his constituency when casting his votes, at least those that contacted his office.

"It was a lot of fun," he said.