The Missouri Budget Project Articles

2011 Legislative Updates

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:40:53 GMT

The Missouri Budget Project's E-News Updates and Legislative Action Alerts provide timely information on what is happening in the Missouri Legislature and the U.S. Congress and how it will impact Missourians. They also periodically include details on upcoming events and information on how you can get involved. Click here to sign up for the MBP's E-News Updates!

Click on the dates below to read previous E-News Updates and Action Alerts:

Slow General Revenue Growth Continues

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:55:53 GMT

Despite the generally improving economy, Missouri net general revenue collection growth remains sluggish. Collections must grow considerably over the next six months to avoid mid-year budget cuts. To learn more about quarterly trends, click here.

Analysis: Governor's Budget Likely to Harm Economic Outlook

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:01:27 GMT

Governor Nixon's proposed budget continues a 3 year trend of spending cuts to balance the budget. A better approach includes more revenue to keep Missouri from falling further behind, build strong schools, create an environment for job growth, and protect vital programs. Click here to learn more about the budget cuts and their impact.

Proposal to Cap State Spending Would Damage Missouri's Economy

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:45:53 GMT

The Missouri House of Representatives passed a proposal to cap state spending that would damage Missouri's economy and its ability to create jobs and fund critical services. To read the full Missouri Budget Project press release, click here.

Governor's Budget Harms Missouri's Economic Outlook

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:28:44 GMT

By relying on a cuts-only approach to the state's budget crisis, the Governor's budget proposal will make it harder for students to get the quality education they need to compete in the global economy and for Missouri to attract jobs to our state. To read Missouri Budget Project Executive Director Amy Blouin's full statement on the Governor's budget, click here.

Missouri Faces $800 Million Budget Shortfall in FY 2013

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:38:07 GMT

The state of Missouri will face a budget shortfall nearing $800 million in fiscal year 2013, making it more difficult than ever for the state to make vital investments to create jobs and boost our economy, according to a new analysis by the Missouri Budget Project. The shortfall is more than $300 million more than previous estimates by the state. To read the full analysis, click here. To read the MBP press release, click here.

Press Release: Missouri Faces $800 Million Budget Shortfall in FY 2013

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:35:32 GMT

The state of Missouri will face a budget shortfall nearing $800 million in FY 2013, making it more difficult than ever for the state to make vital investments to create jobs and boost our economy, according to a new analysis. The shortfall is more than $300 million more than previously estimated by the state.

Click here to read the full press release with comments from Executive Director Amy Blouin.

Digging Into the Census Data: Poverty, Income, and Health Insurance by Congressional District

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:22:43 GMT

Census data show that Missourians' median income has dropped, growing numbers of Missourians are poor, unemployment is high, and record numbers are uninsured. However, situations vary broadly across Missouri. Click here to see how these metrics compare across Missouri's congressional districts.

Report Shows Need to Reform Outdated Income Tax Structure

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:39:57 GMT

A new national report found that Missouri was one of only a few states that tax working poor families below the poverty threshold, emphasizing the need to carefully reform its outdated income tax structure. To read the full Missouri Budget Project press release on the issue, click here.

KC Event November 4th

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 14:45:24 GMT

Invitation

MO General Revenue Report, First Quarter FY 2012

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:12:37 GMT

Despite falling 1.5 percent in September, net General Revenue collections increased 1.9 percent for the quarter ending in September. However, the state still faces a major budget shortfall in FY 2013. The revenue declines seen in FYs 2009 and 2010 were the largest sustained decline since the Great Depression, and FY 2011 GR collections were below those of FY 2006. To learn more about first quarter revenue, click here.

New Census Data: Missourians Struggle in Face of Economic Decline

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:51:09 GMT

New census data highlights the increase in poverty and the plight of Missouri's middle class following the economic recession. As families struggle to make ends meet and provide for their children, government services have kept even more Missourians from falling into poverty. To read the Missouri Budget Project press release on the new data, click here.

U.S. Census Bureau Releases Current Population Survey Data on Health Insurance

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:44:37 GMT

More than 850,000 Missourians are uninsured, according to census data released this week - more than twice as many as a decade ago. To learn more about trends in Missouri health insurance coverage, click here.

Senate Protects Critical Tax Credit for More than 105,000 Low-Income Missourians

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:11:18 GMT

The Missouri Senate rejected a provision that would eliminate more than 105,000 low-income seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities from eligibility for a modest tax credit that is critical to keeping them in their homes. To learn more about the credit and the vote to maintain it, click here.

Missourians Struggle with Economic Recovery: Poverty and the Number of Uninsured Rises

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 20:21:28 GMT

The number of Missourians living in poverty or without health insurance rose dramatically while earnings dropped, according to preliminary Census Bureau figures released today. Government investments in critical safety net programs like Medicaid are critical in assisting families to weather the economic storm. More information about the census figures is available here.

Four New Mega Tax Initiative Petitions Would Cut State General Revenue by One-Third

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:19:05 GMT

Four new initiative petitions have been filed that would place before voters a constitutional amendment to greatly expand the sales tax and eliminate the personal income tax. If passed, the new tax structure would result in general revenue shortfalls of at least $2.5 billion - about 1/3 of the general revenue total. The MBP fact sheet provides more details on the proposals and the impact on the state's general revenue and services.

Aerotropolis: If MO Builds It Will They Come?

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 16:28:00 GMT

One of the objectives of Missouri's expected Special Legislative Session to be held this September is consideration of the "Aerotropolis" tax credit program. The program would spend $360 million over ten years to promote an international trade zone surrounding Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. However, mounting evidence casts serious doubt on the program's prospects for success. Click here to read our new analysis of "Aerotropolis".

At Home Thanks to Circuit Breaker: Missouri's Circuit Breaker Helps Every County

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:52:44 GMT

Missouri lawmakers will soon consider a bill that would eliminate more than 105,000 Missouri seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities from a modest tax credit that is critical to keeping them in their homes and would remove millions from local economies throughout the state. To see by senate district the total dollar amount of tax credits received by renters, as well as the number of people qualifying for the credit as renters, click here.

At Home Thanks to Circuit Breaker: A Proven Effective Tax Credit that Helps MO Seniors and People with Disabilities Remain in their Homes

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:25:41 GMT

The tax credit package to be debated at a special session in September includes a $52 million cut to the Circuit Breaker Property tax credit program, which enables seniors and those living with a disability to remain in their homes. If passed, the measure would impact more than 100,000 Missouri seniors and people living with a disability. To learn more, click here.

More Affordable Choices for Some Uninsured Missourians: Premiums in Missouri's Federal High Risk Pool Are Lowered

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 19:24:49 GMT

Premiums in the federal high risk pool intended to insure Missourians with pre-existing conditions were lowered by 23 percent on August 1. To read the details, click here.

New Mega Tax Petitions Would Cut General Revenue by One-Third

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 19:26:51 GMT

Two new mega tax petitions filed with the Secretary of State propose a constitutional amendment to eliminate personal income taxes and replace them with a greatly expanded sales tax that applies to most goods and some services, even those currently exempt. As a result of the proposed tax structure, the state would face a general revenue shortfall of at least $2.4 billion. To learn more, click here.

St. Louis Post Dispatch Guest Commentary by Amy Blouin: Protect the Future and the Vulnerable

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 19:20:30 GMT

Congress is embroiled in a critical debate about how to address the national debt. While all policymakers concur that the current level of debt is unsustainable, consensus ends there. The policy options Congress chooses will have lasting implications for our country. The most successful and responsible effort to reduce looming deficits and the long-term debt would include a blend of spending reductions and measures that increase revenue. To read the entire guest commentary, click here.

MOE Requirements Ensure Health Insurance During Tough Economic Times

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 19:10:55 GMT

Maintenance of effort provisions, which stabilize funding for health care services, serve an important role in maintaining the provision of adequate health care and important economic activity that is critical to economic recovery. As states struggle to balance constinuing budget shortfalls, some states have suggested eliminating MOE requirements from Medicaid and CHIP programs. To learn more about how MOE requirements stablize health care services and contribute to economic recovery, click here.

National Report - Americans Don't Move Because of Tax Rates

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:58:47 GMT

State tax rates do not cause people to leave - or move to - a state, according to a new report that busts a common myth advanced by those who want to replace current state income taxes with a system that favors the rich at the expense of working Missourians. To learn more, click here.

Rate Review Requirements in Health Care Reform: Increased Information May Improve Consumer Decisionmaking

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:06:30 GMT

The 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires an annual review of premium rates for fully insured health care plans. Greater public transparency concerning costs and revenue will enable consumers to make better insurance choices and strengthen the state's review process, potentially reducing health care costs in Missouri. For more information, click here.