Apparently, Missourians don’t read the Tribune
Wednesday, Aug 5, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Tribune editorial from last month…
Illinoisans often assume high taxes are simply the unavoidable cost of living in the Land of Lincoln. But just across our borders, states are making some very different choices.
Missouri is asking voters whether to gradually eliminate its income tax and shift more toward taxing consumption. […]
Take what is going on in Missouri. On Aug. 4, voters get the chance to weigh in on whether Missouri should fundamentally rethink how it taxes its citizens; specifically whether the Show-Me State should gradually shift its tax burden away from income and toward consumption.
Ironically, Missouri currently has the very tax structure Illinois progressives have long sought: a graduated income tax. Even so, its top marginal income tax rate (4.7%) is lower than Illinois’ flat rate (4.95%).
* The Missouri Republicans put the question on the primary ballot, and it didn’t go well…
Missouri voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have given state lawmakers the ability to expand sales and use taxes in order to eliminate the state income tax.
Amendment 5 failed Tuesday, with 83% of the ballots cast being no votes when the election was called at 8:15 p.m. […]
The Missouri Budget Project says 80% of people in the state would have seen a net tax increase, with the average Missourian paying over $500 more in taxes annually.
That 83 percent total has not changed.
I assume most would’ve seen a net increase precisely because the state has a graduated income tax.
- Roadrager - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 12:15 pm:
If Missourians don’t read the Chicago Tribune, that means they are fully qualified to serve on the Tribune’s Editorial Board.
- Irreverent - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 12:26 pm:
>I assume most would’ve seen a net increase precisely because the state has a graduated income tax.
Of course. Conservatives love their regressive taxes.
- here we go again - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 12:28 pm:
And as every Econ 101 student knows, sales/consumption taxes are the most regressive.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 12:42 pm:
Roadrager, that’s Golden Horseshoe nomination quality.
- George - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 12:48 pm:
Missouri has a progressive income tax, BUT you hit the top rate once you have about $9,000 of income.
They do allow for quite a bit more deductions that Illinois as well. For instance your federal income taxes are deductible on your state return, which deducting taxes from taxes, is generally regressive. Meaning the more income you have the more your federal taxes are, the bigger your Missouri deduction is, the lower your effective Missouri tax rate is. So while the MO income tax could technically be classified as “progressive” because almost everyone hits the top rate and the wealthy get more deductions, in practice its not really progressive.
- Think Again - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 12:57 pm:
=Of course. Conservatives love their regressive taxes=
“Amendment 5 failed Tuesday, with 83% of the ballots cast being no”
The inverse is that most individuals would rather keep more money in their own pockets than give it to the state through higher taxes. Same result with the 47% vote for the “Fair Tax” .
- Montrose - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 12:58 pm:
“Illinoisans often assume high taxes are simply the unavoidable cost of living in the Land of Lincoln. But just across our borders, voters are rejecting some very different choices.”
Fixed it for them.
- B - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:01 pm:
How insanely refreshing it is to see a state fully aware to the rich’s exploitation of raising consumption taxes and lowering income taxes. If a red state like Missouri can be educated to this, maybe there is long term hope for this nation after all.
- Johnny B - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:03 pm:
Why would evidence do you have that sales taxes are the most regressive?
Assuming sensible carve outs for essentials like food and medicine and similar categories, wealthy people certainly buy more goods and services than poor and middle income people.
Illinois just raised its sales tax .25% in Cook, Du Page, Kane, Lake and and Will counties to fund transit instead of raising fares
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:04 pm:
===If a red state like Missouri can be educated to this===
If you look at ballot questions, Missouri is a remarkably liberal/progressive state on a whole host of issues. But the Democratic Party brand is so fatally toxic there that the MO Dems can’t capitalize on it.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:04 pm:
Rich Miller @ 12:42 pm: +1
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:17 pm:
==sales taxes are the most regressive==
You can’t be serious with that question.
==wealthy people==
The increased sales tax would not affect wealthy people the same as low income people. Wealthy people can afford it. Low income people cannot.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:20 pm:
=Why would evidence do you have that sales taxes are the most regressive?=
Google is your friend.
https://taxfoundation.org/taxedu/glossary/regressive-tax/
- Irreverent - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:25 pm:
@Johnny B
This is not new or controversial information. It’s something we’ve understood as a species for over a century. At least those of us capable of understanding basic math, and cause and effect. Would you like us to prove gravity to you next?
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:28 pm:
Maybe 83% of Missourians were saying, “Show-me the state income tax being gone FIRST, then I’ll decide whether I want a consumption tax.”
- Norseman - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:31 pm:
=== If you look at ballot questions, Missouri is a remarkably liberal/progressive state on a whole host of issues. But the Democratic Party brand is so fatally toxic there that the MO Dems can’t capitalize on it. ===
That’s why the MO MAGA GOP had another referendum to require approval in ALL congressional districts for an initiative to pass. It too failed with 80% NO. Big thing around here was VOTE NO on 4 and 5.
- Johnny B - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:46 pm:
Since the beginning of time wealthy people have spent more money.
If you carve out essentials you can reduce regressive impact of sales taxes, which don’t happen with the most recent sales tax increases in 6 Illinois counties.
Illinois just raised tolls and CTA fares for the first time in 9 years to fund transit even though Illinois just trails California in gas taxes.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:51 pm:
===Maybe 83% of Missourians were saying, “Show-me the state income tax being gone FIRST,===
lol
It’s half the state budget. Not exactly a possible thing to do.
lol
- Incandenza - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:52 pm:
Wild how the basic fact that relying on sales tax is disastrous is not yet economics gospel at this point. Denying the value of the income tax is about the same as denying supply and demand itself. It’s economic ignorance, and thankfully the MO voters understand that. For some reason the folks at the Trib do not.
- City Zen - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 1:57 pm:
==its top marginal income tax rate (4.7%) is lower than Illinois’ flat rate (4.95%).==
Missouri’s “progressive” tax structure where $9,400 is the top tax bracket is actually a byproduct of not indexing the brackets to inflation until recently. Their brackets basically date back to the 1970’s.
== 80% of people in the state would have seen a net tax increase==
Not surprising. Missouri’s standard deduction is $15K/$31K.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:16 pm:
==It’s half the state budget. Not exactly a possible thing to do.==
So a consumption tax replacement would make up half the state budget too?
Just saying those skeptical Missourians might suspect their legislators would be reluctant to get rid of any tax.
Taxes, like bad breath, have a way of coming back.
- Annonin' - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:38 pm:
Down stretch proponents their broadcast ads to say voters should approve cause socialists opposed. Backfired. Socialist might not be a 4 letter word everywhere
- Dotnonymous x - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:52 pm:
Whatever is hard on the poor is easy on the rich…common sense seems to be a thing of the past…Dotnonymous x is gettin’ mad…at the rich talkers and their rich talk.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:55 pm:
===So a consumption tax replacement would make up half ===
Yes. But they can’t raise those taxes without passing another referendum. So, they’d have to slash the income tax and wait for the next election.
- Anyone Remember - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 2:59 pm:
“… wealthy people certainly buy more goods and services … .”
Services have more exemptions from sales taxes than do goods. Every time someone proposes Illinois impose sales tax on services, people croak “I’ll have to pay sales tax on my haircut?”
- thechampaignlife - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 3:04 pm:
You can counteract the regressiveness of a sales tax, but it would take something like universal basic income. Hey, if the conservatives want a 20% VAT paired with a $175/person weekly UBI payment, they might get some progressives on board.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 4:09 pm:
- Show-me the state income tax being gone FIRST, then I’ll decide whether I want a consumption tax. -
Their neighbors to the west tried that, it was a disaster.
- Boone Logan Square - Wednesday, Aug 5, 26 @ 4:14 pm:
Rich Miller @ 12:42 pm: +2
I did have the thought reading it that it could also state “If Missourians don’t read, that means they are fully qualified to serve on the Tribune’s Editorial Board.”