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Missouri lawmakers aim to eliminate taxes on social security benefits
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri is one of only 11 states in the country that taxes social security benefits, and now one lawmaker wants to use the state’s extra cash to change that.
The Show-Me State currently has a $6 billion surplus, and there are many ideas inside the Capitol on what to spend it on. One Republican said it’s time for the state to give some relief to senior citizens, a plan estimated to cost millions.
“Right now, for people at a lot of different income levels, when they get their social security benefits, they pay taxes on those benefits as though it was regular income,” Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, said.
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More than 75% of the country doesn’t require those on social security to pay income taxes, but Missouri doesn’t fall under that category.
“Missouri does have a record budget surplus and I believe giving that money back to the people is the best way that we can use those resources rather than more government spending,” Luetkemeyer said.
Like many Republicans this session, Luetkemeyer wants to use $300 million of the state’s multi-billion dollar surplus on a tax cut by giving relief to those on a fixed income.
“A lot of seniors I spoke with, this was the number one issue they brought up to me,” Luetkemeyer said. “For most retirees, they’ve been taxed to support our school districts and all other government functions for decades.”
Across the aisle, Democrats agree, Missouri’s older population needs a break and wants to see more legislation passed this session.
“We’re absolutely ready and willing to listen to anything that will make senior citizens life easier, especially when they are on a fixed income and everything seems to be getting more expensive,” Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence, said. “We also need to be freezing property taxes on seniors that have gone outlandish when you come into an area and there’s economic development or redevelopment and seniors who have been living in their home for 40, 50 years have a tax bill that was $200 for 10 years, and now it’s $5,000.”
Luetkemeyer’s legislation, Senate Bill 448, would eliminate the filing status and allow Missourians to deduct 100% of their social security benefits.
“We should be protecting our seniors, we should be standing with them and this is a very simple way to take some of that budget surplus, that historic budget surplus, that we have right now and put it back into the pockets of our seniors,” Luetkemeyer said.
He said there is no income cap on the legislation, and those on social security disability would also qualify. If passed and signed by the governor, it would go into effect in 2024.
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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.
Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.
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The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.
Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.
Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.
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ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.
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ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.
The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.
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Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.
A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.
The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.
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