Missouri House says no to farm taxes
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Missouri House says no to farm taxes

Date: January 27, 2010
By: Rebecca Berg
State Capitol Bureau

Intro:  With farmers across the state struggling to make ends meet, the House passed a resolution rejecting new taxes for some farmland.
RunTime:  0:41
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: It's been a tough year for Missouri farmers.

Crops underperformed in much of the state, and so did the economy.

That's why the Missouri House said "no" Wednesday to new property taxes for some farmers.

Marshall Democratic Representative Joe Aull says another tax would only make a bad situation worse.

Actuality:  JAULL1.WAV
Run Time:  00:15
Description: "A lot of farmers are hurting. And I know this last year a lot of farmers had a good crop. The corn crop was good, the bean crop was good, and others. But in many areas of the state it wasn't so good. And I know a lot of our farmers are fighting a lot of the same issues that all of us are in this tight economy right now."

The resolution passed by a sizeable margin and rejected a move by the Tax Commission to re-value state farmland. 

The Senate hears the issue next.

Intro:  With the state's economy in crisis, the House said no Wednesday to new taxes for some Missouri farmers.
RunTime:  0:44
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: State lawmakers have vowed to help Missourians weather tough economic times by keeping taxes right where they are.

But the State Tax Commission disagrees and recommends property taxes to go up for state's highest-quality farms.

The House fought back Wednesday and passed a resolution to formally reject that idea.

On the House floor, Marshall Democratic Representative Joe Aull strongly encouraged the legislature to block higher taxes for farmers.

Actuality:  JAULL2.WAV
Run Time:  00:12
Description: "As we keep saying here, this is not a time for a tax increase. It's not a good time for a tax increase. And this would raise taxes considerably on high-quality farm ground."

An overwhleming majority of the House supported the measure, and will now be addressed by the Senate.