Statement from Dave Spence, Republican Candidate for Governor, on passage of HB 1329

ST. LOUIS, MO - Dave Spence, Republican candidate for governor, today issued a statement regarding the passage of H.B. 1329 that addresses a Supreme Court decision incentivizing Missourians to shop out of state for large household purchases such as cars or boats. The Supreme Court decision threw out a funding mechanism almost ninety percent of counties and municipalities across Missouri have used for more than sixty years. Futhermore, failure to act will result in dozens of Missouri businesses impacted by the court decision shuttering their doors and would cost Missouri several hundred good, family-supporting jobs in an already weak economy.  Local government credit ratings and debt service payments as well as the provision of safe roads, fire protection and other local services could also be negatively impacted if H.B. 1329 is not signed. Spence said the following:

“I’ve heard from lawmakers that Jay Nixon is threatening a veto of H.B. 1329 for purely political reasons, in spite of its strong bipartisan support in the House and Senate. Because he’s made a long political career out of lobbing misleading campaign attacks, he’s afraid my campaign will attack him for supporting a tax increase.  This is why Missouri is last in the nation in job creation. We have a career politician as governor who has never had a private sector job and is scared to death to make decisions.  Jay Nixon is willing to sacrifice jobs and hurt local governments simply to avoid making a difficult decision or doing anything to disrupt his ambitious electoral aspirations.  Let me be clear, as governor I would sign H.B. 1329 because it’s not a tax increase and it’s the right thing to do for Missouri job creators and local governments.  The bill codifies tax policy that preserves the status quo and eliminates an unfair playing field for Missouri job creators that was created by a court decision.  It is way past time for Jay Nixon to demonstrate the leadership demanded of the office and to stop playing politics with our state’s future.”