STATE PROPERTY-TAX FORM SHOULD BE CHANGED

The Missouri Supreme Court spent much of the day last Wednesday hearing arguments in a case that claims the requirement on a state tax form to sign an oath before God is an unconstitutional violation of the separation between church and state.

The language is contained on a personal-property assessment list taxpayers in all but first-class counties must fill out each year and send to the county assessor. The taxpayer must "solemnly swear or affirm" that the information he or she provides is correct "so help me God."

One justice asked the obvious: Why doesn't it also apply to first-class counties? An assistant attorney general representing the Tax Commission could not answer that question. He said the commission is only trying to comply with a statute but will accept tax forms from those who object to the oath before God.

The statute he referred to was adopted 145 years ago. No other tax form or government form of any kind -- federal or state -- contains such language, and it is obvious this statute is long outdated, regardless of the church-state separation issue.

The Missouri Legislature should take note.