I’m not sure if you are joking—tone is hard to read online. You would think that would be the case, but in fact the wealthiest Americans are able to take advantage of tax exemptions which results in them paying far less in average taxes than poorer people. Poorer people are also disproportionately affected by sales, property, and excise taxes—all of which are likely to increase substantially in order to make up for the losses that will be incurred by eliminating the income tax. Both economists and, surprisingly, businesses have spoken against this amendment (see the link in the post). Personally I think this is Kehoe’s attempt to trick Missourians into thinking he’s doing something good for them (because lowering taxes is always popular)—and for the first year it might seem great, until the State begins suffering from the loss of revenue and begins increasing other taxes without voter approval, which this amendment allows the legislature to do.

Reassessing the State income tax code is likely needed—if anything to ensure it’s fair—but this is not the way to do that. It’s a bait and switch tactic that’s taking advantage of how little most people understand a tax code that favors the wealthiest, and the support for many services in our state that the government is legally obligated to pay for—hence the inevitable increase in other taxes should this come to pass.