Missouri leads the nation in bankruptcy rates

October 9, 2003
By: Josh Hinkle
State Capital Bureau

The American Bankruptcy Institute says Missouri rose to the top of bankruptcy rates in the nation this year. Josh Hinkle has more on the story.

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The report shows Missouri residents contributed to the nation's highest rate after filing for Chapter 7 or personal bankruptcy.

But State Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan says Missouri's government has the ability to change this problem.

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Contents: "THE HOUSE AND SENATE PASSED SOME VERY GOOD BILLS THIS YEAR WHICH WOULD'VE IMPROVED OUR BUSINESS CLIMATE, A HANDFUL OF WHICH WERE VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR. SOME OTHER PROVISIONS NEVER MADE IT THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS."
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Missouri held a per capita bankruptcy rate of nearly twice the national average in 2002.

Mehan says the statistic relates to Missouri's job loss, which he says is already improving.

Missouri leads the nation in bankruptcy rates. Josh Hinkle has more on the story.

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Missouri nearly doubled the national bankruptcy rate per capita for 2002.

State Chamber of Commerce President Dan Mehan says the state government has the ability to stop this statistic from happening again.

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Contents: "WE'VE HAD IT, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. WE NEED TO TAKE ACTION NOW. AND WE NEED TO HOLD THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS IN THIS ARENA."
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Mehan charges the governor vetoed any economic bills that could have helped to end bankruptcy in Missouri.

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