Two choices - Higher taxes or living within our means

Here are excerpts from state Rep. Rod Jetton's weekly column about the first week of the special legislative session in Jefferson City, Mo.

Last week was one of the most interesting weeks I have ever seen in Jefferson City. We had thought-provoking speeches, committed protesters and the biggest rally anyone can remember in recent years.

You probably know what the big fight was all about: higher taxes. ... You don't have to worry about me. I voted for a budget that trimmed the size of our state government and protected education as well as our most needy citizens. But, most importantly, it does not raise taxes.

Everything came to a head on Thursday when Gov. Bob Holden came to address the General Assembly. The galleries were jam-packed with supporters on both sides of the tax issue. ...

There was nothing normal about this day, though, because hundreds of citizens from around the state had packed the Capitol to protest higher taxes. I have been here for three years, and never have I seen this many people in Jefferson City at one time asking for nothing more than to be left alone. ...

I came to Jefferson City for days like this -- days that I would join leaders of both parties in an honorable debate on the important issues affecting Missouri.

State Sen. Peter Kinder of Cape Girardeau, the president pro tem of the Senate, ... described how we had compromised and met the governor more than halfway by closing six out of 11 loopholes the governor had asked for and by adding $400 million more in new money. He stated that even though the governor had asked for $700 million in new taxes back in January, we had given him $400 million in new money without raising taxes as well as saving $389 million by trimming our budget. He closed by emphasizing this budget was balanced and reminded us that the voters had defeated three different tax proposals only eight months ago. ...

Next, the governor ... spoke with passion about the need for raising taxes and spending more on important programs. I must admit that even though I disagreed with his proposal, the governor was giving the best speech I had ever heard him deliver. ...

One point he made as he slowly gazed over all the senators and representatives was that we should trust the people. He asked us why we were against letting the people have a chance to vote on higher taxes. ... I noticed that the senators and representatives on the Democratic side were not clapping with much enthusiasm on that point.

There were two occasions when Republicans led the charge for a standing ovation during the governor's speech: when he said we should trust the people, and when he said citizens should bear more of the responsibility for taking care of themselves. Each time it surprised the governor and his supporters.

The governor ended by saying the federal money that was coming to Missouri would not be enough to fix our budget. Then one more time he asked us to support his referendum to raise taxes and finished by urging us to keep working on the four budget bills he had vetoed. ...

As the governor left, his supporters in the upper galleries cleared out. Their seats were quickly refilled with all the anti-tax protesters waiting in the halls.

State Rep. Catherine Hanaway, speaker of the House, took her turn at the dais. She started by explaining the two different philosophies and the two different solutions to our budget problems. She pointed out that for 48 years the other party had tried to serve the needs of the citizens by growing government and raising taxes. But she added the citizens still have unmet needs, and the bureaucracy has grown so big we cannot afford to pay for it.

She offered another solution that would create jobs, grow the economy and allow citizens to take care of themselves. She pointed out that the state had less because families were making less. She said the state should get by with less just like families do. Hanaway added that Missouri families are dealing with higher costs, cutting the family budget and working harder.

She emphasized that tax increases would actually take more from families and small business, which would continue to drive jobs out of our state. Higher taxes would probably bring less money into the state treasury but make each persons share go up even more.

Hanaway made a great point by asking, "How much money would it take to satisfy the governor?" She pointed out that he asked for $700 million more in new taxes last January. Then she told how we added $400 million in new revenue, but he still asked for $700 million more. And she reported how we trimmed the budget by $389 million, but he still asked for $700 million more. Now the president is sending Missouri another $400 million, and the governor says he still wants $700 million more in higher taxes.

She finally pleaded, "How much will it take for the governor to have enough money to run the state?" ... She held up a letter the governor had sent her asking her to raise taxes and fix four funding issues in the special session. She explained that we had fixed the four areas he asked for by cutting 550 high-level bureaucrats and saving $24 million, as well as using the federal money to increase spending on education. The only thing she said we would not to do is raise taxes. She finished by saying she trusted the people when they defeated three tax proposals eight months ago and elected a majority of representatives who pledged not to raise taxes. ...

I don't know where we will end up concerning the budget and tax issues during this special session. I do know that all the citizens on both sides of the tax issue are the reason Missouri will continue to be the place where I choose to raise my family. ... Now the people's elected representatives can choose which path to take. We all realize there is a problem, and we all will make a choice. To me, that choice is clear. We must not raise taxes. We must trim our budget. We must pass laws that will stimulate the economy and create jobs. After hearing all the arguments, I believe that this course will lead down a long and prosperous path for all Missouri citizens.

Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, Mo., represents District 156 in the Missouri House of Representatives.