Missouri House of Representatives fails to override veto of income tax cut

The Missouri House has failed to override Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of a bill cutting state income taxes.

The House voted 94-67 for the veto override. But that fell significantly short of the 109 votes needed, because several Republican lawmakers sided with the Democratic governor.

Nixon issued a statement Wednesday saying the vote was “a defining moment for our state and a victory for all Missourians.”

He called the legislation “fiscally irresponsible” and asserted that it would have “defunded our schools and weakened our economy.”

Fifteen Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the veto override.

Republican Party leaders had said the legislation was needed to help businesses compete with neighboring states that have recently cut taxes.

The bill would have gradually reduced income taxes both for businesses and individuals.

Republican legislative leaders had touted the measure as an important means of competing for businesses against Kansas, Oklahoma and other states that recently cut income taxes.

But Nixon warned that the lost revenues could have jeopardized funding for education and other services. He also noted that an apparent drafting error would have imposed state sales taxes on prescription drugs.

Republican lawmakers likely will try again next year to cut taxes.

Stay with ABC 17 News and abc17news.com for more on this developing story.