Letter to the editor: State taxes unfair to low- and middle-income people

Recent statements by some of our state legislative leaders indicate they must think Missouri voters aren't smart enough to know when a tax proposal is regressive and unfair.

Because the sales and gas taxes were overwhelmingly defeated in August, and the large excise tax on cigarettes lost at the polls in November, Missourians are being classified as anti-tax. We're told that the voters won't approve any tax increase.

All of the taxes offered last year for voters' approval were exceedingly regressive. The voters recognized that. And voters are recognizing that Missouri's tax system places a much higher tax burden on low- and middle-income taxpayers than on wealthy Missourians.

A just-released analysis of our state tax system by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy confirms this. When all Missouri taxes are totaled up, the study found that the tax rate on middle-income families is three quarters more than the effective rates the richest families pay. With the families on the lowest end of the income scale, the effective tax rate is nearly double that of the wealthiest Missourians.

In Missouri, the share of income paid in taxes goes up as income falls. The study concludes, "Missouri has an unfair, regressive tax system."

With our state facing huge budget deficits and the prospect of dangerous cuts in human services, we need tax changes to produce more fairness and more adequate revenue.

Missouri voters should be offered a chance to approve a tax proposal to accomplish this.

Pat Martin

Chair, Missourians for Tax Justice

St. Louis