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Clothes, crayons and computers - all tax free items intended to give parents and students a break on their pocketbooks. KSMU's Katie Hummel reports on the bill that will allow for another sales tax holiday in Missouri.
THE THREE-DAY SALES TAX HOLIDAY TOOK PLACE FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST AUGUST.
DURING THAT TIME, SHOPPERS IN MANY PARTS OF THE STATE COULD BUY CLOTHES, COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND OTHER SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY SALES TAX.
THIS NEW BILL WILL ESTABLISH A PERMANENT SALES TAX HOLIDAY IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI DURING AUGUST.
REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MIKE SUTHERLAND IS SPONSORING THE BILL.
HE SAYS THE PREVIOUS SALES TAX HOLIDAY WAS A SUCCESS ON TWO LEVELS.
NOT ALL CITIES AND COUNTIES HAVE TO PARTICIPATE UNDER SUTHERLAND'S BILL...ANY LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT OPTED OUT OF THE 2004 SALES TAX HOLIDAY ALSO COULD OPT OUT OF THE 2005 HOLIDAY
BUT AFTER THIS YEAR, THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE TO OPT OUT.
DURING DEBATE, REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE CARL BEARDEN PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT TO THE BILL THAT WOULD GIVE LOCAL OFFICIALS THE POWER TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO OPT OUT OF THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY.
BUT SPRINGFIELD REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MARK WRIGHT DISAGREES.
HE RECALLS WHAT HAPPENED IN HIS DISTRICT LAST YEAR.
IN THE END, THE HOUSE ADOPTED THE AMENDMENT, ALLOWING LOCAL OFFICIALS, NOT VOTERS TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SALES TAX HOLIDAY.
THE BILL FACES A FINAL VOTE IN THE HOUSE BEFORE IT CAN MOVE TO THE SENATE.
