By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostDon’t worry about
having to pay Missouri state income taxes on those stimulus checks.State lawmakers
have approved a bill that would exempt the $1,200 checks Congress doled out as
part of the COVID-19 relief package.“This is a huge
win for Missouri taxpayers. Missouri is one of only six states that because of
a quirk in our tax code was going to tax the COVID-19 stimulus checks that many
people who make under $75,000 a year receive,” State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of
Parkville tells St. Joseph Post.Luetkemeyer says
the state had no business taking a piece out of those checks.“That money was
meant to go in the pockets of working Missouri families, particularly in this
time of great economic uncertainty.”Luetkemeyer
attached an amendment to another tax bill he sponsored. That bill gives
property owners more time to appeal increases in their property assessments and
requires county assessors to do a physical inspection of any property subject
to more than a 15% increase in assessment.The bill is now on
the governor’s desk.Luetkemeyer wasn’t
all that surprised his legislation passed the Senate unanimously and received
only token opposition in the House.“I think this was
one of those unifying things that in the midst of the pandemic with everybody
struggling the legislature, regardless of what party you were from, realized
that was something that we needed to do for hardworking Missourians and, again,
I’m very pleased that we were able to get it done,” according to Luetkemeyer.Congress approved
an emergency legislative package which totaled more than $2.2 trillion to help
prop up an economy hit hard by restrictions imposed to limit the spread of the
coronavirus. In that package, Congress authorized individuals making $75,000 or
less annually to receive $1,200. Couples making $150,000 or less will receive
$2,400, plus $500 for each dependent child.Luetkemeyer also is
working to get his anti-crime package through in the waning days of the
session, arguing Missouri needs to address its violent crime problem.“Those are things
right now that are still very much alive, both in the House and the Senate. I’m
going to be very focused on trying to get those things across the finish line,
but, as you know, the last week of session is very unpredictable and there is a
very finite amount of time that we have to get some of those priorities across
the finish line and many ideas, including many good ideas, will not end up making
it to the governor’s desk,” Luetkemeyer says.Luetkemeyer says
Senate and House negotiators have hung up on a provision which would require
DNA tests for those arrested on felony charges. The Senate wants it. The House
doesn’t. Luetkemeyer worries the dispute could sink the bill.

Looks like Missouri won't be taxing those stimulus checks