The House passed legislation to establish a tax holiday that would give Missouri families a break from sales tax when purchasing environmentally-friendly products for their homes.  House Bill 2250 would create the Show-Me Green Tax Holiday Act, which would authorize a state sales tax exemption on the purchase of energy efficient appliances.  This program is modeled after the back-to-school sales tax holiday already in effect. The bill received final approval in the House and is now in the Senate.  If the bill is signed into law, Missouri would become only the fourth state in the country to enact this kind of environmentally-friendly tax holiday, joining Connecticut, Florida and Virginia.

Gasoline Sales Tax Holiday

As an amendment to another bill, the House also just passed a sales tax holiday for purchases of gasoline between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  This is one of my proudest votes.  If our federal government is not going to do anything to bring down the price of gas, representatives must do whatever is within our power at the state level.  The state tax on gasoline is not the biggest chunk of the price of filling up.  However, when we are paying nearly $50 per tank, suspending the state tax will make a difference, especially for those who have no choice about paying the price.

Another benefit is that it may help Missouri’s tourism industry.  This gives people just one more reason to stay in Missouri when planning their summer vacations.  If the choice is between St. Louis, Memphis or Chicago, this might be enough to tip the scales.

I must emphasize that these bills passed the House; however the Senate must still approve and the governor must sign them before these measures become law.

Sales Tax Holiday on clothes, computers and school supplies

The legislature passed this tax holiday on school supplies several years ago. 

The Missouri constitution does not allow the state to decrease the amount of revenue that other taxing jurisdictions currently receive.  Therefore, when we pass measures that will save our constituents taxes, we must put in a provision that allows other jurisdictions to opt out of the sales tax holiday.  In general, the state, county and city may each charge a sales tax, with the largest percentage tax going to the state (4.225 percent).  Therefore, if a city or county votes to opt out of the holiday, you will still pay either or both of these local sales taxes, but not the state percentage.  A Transportation Development District (TDD) may also charge a sales tax; however, the TDD will generally follow the local lead on granting the tax relief.

In order to benefit the economy, now is the time to implement programs to encourage people to continue shopping.  Some cities are fearful they may lose revenue from the tax holiday, but this loss is impossible to estimate.  Furthermore, they are already losing revenue through internet shopping, high gas prices, and a general pessimism about the economy.  It cannot hurt us to try something new and innovative that will help a lot of people.

Your thoughts are important to me, so please let me know what you think about these proposals.  You can send me your opinion by clicking here:  Cynthia Davis.

In the Mood for a Bike Ride?

Looking for another way to save on gasoline prices?  Tomorrow, May 16, is National Bike to Work Day.  For more information on St. Louis-area activities, visit Trailnet’s web site.

The following article is excerpted from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Gear up and pedal to the office

Cynthia Billhartz Gregorian

5/12/2008

If you haven't done so already, it's time to dust off your bike, pump up its tires and squeeze into those padded spandex shorts.

Ready?
OK, you're cycling to work Friday.
Your reward will be a refreshing drink, a tasty snack and the knowledge that you've done something good for yourself and the environment.

May is National Bike Month, and Friday is National Bike to Work Day. To celebrate, the Great Rivers Greenway District, the YMCA of Greater St. Louis and Trailnet will host 20 area refueling stations where bike commuters can grab breakfast…(Note:  The re-fueling station in O’Fallon is located at the O’Fallon Family YMCA, 3451 Pheasant Meadows Drive, phone 314-379-0092.)

Be safe
If you're interested in bicycling to work, make sure you take safety precautions, such as wearing a helmet and visiting Trailnet’s web site on safety tips.  And if you're interested in bike commuting regularly, visit our bicycling blog to talk with others about the local cycling community in St. Louis.

And if you need further motivation, here are 10 reasons for cycling to work, as compiled by cycling geeks here at the Post-Dispatch.

1. You’ll kill two birds with one stone – get to work and get your daily exercise out of the way.  Cycling burns 25 calories a mile and gives you an aerobic workout.
2. Cycling allows you to mentally gear up for your work day, then mentally decompress afterward.
3. Bicycles don’t pollute.
4. You’ll save lots of money on gas, which is speeding toward $4 a gallon.
5. The more we all cycle to work, the more we decrease our dependence on foreign oil.
6. You'll get your daily dose of Vitamin D from the sun. It enhances calcium absorption which makes your bones stronger. Wear sunscreen though.
7. You'll get to know local streets better and develop a sense of ownership of the neighborhoods you pass through.
8. Traversing long-distances using your body's energy is satisfying.
9. It allows you to revisit the sense of adventure you felt as a child.
10. Colors in nature, such as on flowers, leaves and the sky, are more intense when viewed on a bicycle. So is the feeling of rain and wind.

Quote of the Day…

We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.

Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)

This Capitol Report is a weekly newsletter by Representative Cynthia Davis, from the 19^th District, covering events in the Missouri Legislature and district-wide issues. 

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