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Meanwhile in MO, Republicans Press to Eliminate the Sales Tax on Guns and Ammo, But Keep it On Food [1]

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Date: 2023-03-29  

One of Life's Clear Necessities, Especially in the Bible Belt

Maybe we should just keep those flags at half-staff. There’s not much point in raising them for the brief intervals between national tragedies.

Here in Missouri, our Republican lawmakers certainly know how to deal with tragedy. We eliminate the taxes on Guns and Ammo. Because the legislature can spot a root cause when they see one. And while we’re at it, let’s provide tax credits to sellers of firearms to offset those federal excise taxes. Since there must be some reason to do that. I’m just not enlightened enough to understand it.

We'll be the only state that taxes groceries but not guns. I guess that’s a major selling point to bring in young families and new industry. We tax groceries here at 1.225%. Diapers and sanitary products are taxed at 4.225%, since I suppose they are considered luxury products in Missouri. But at least we get a little break on food, so you can grab a bite between emptying those 100 round magazines and rolling coal to smoke those electric cars off the highway.

The Democratic push to eliminate the sales tax on food was itself eliminated by the Republican majority. Just too expensive. That same majority fought for years to stall the Medicaid expansion, working to override a popular vote to proceed. And now they’re working to make similar initiatives more difficult to bring forward in the future. This is how representative government works in Missouri. The priority is on firepower, not food or healthcare.

The bill will be read for the third time tomorrow. If passed, it would be effective this August.

This was a swing state not all that long ago. We did have popular initiatives passed for Medicaid expansion and recreational cannabis. A true 50 state strategy by Democrats could make a big difference here. It’s going to take a lot of money and a long time. But it’s worth it, because it’s hard to do worse than our current leadership.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/3/29/2160903/-Meanwhile-in-MO-Republicans-Press-to-Eliminate-the-Sales-Tax-on-Guns-and-Ammo-But-Keep-it-On-Food

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