Crowell: Treat tax credits like other expenditures

Sen. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, in his latest report, recommends treating tax credits like other expenditures:

When I was growing up, I was told, “If you always do what you always did, then you will always get what you always got.” In my opinion, Missouri cannot continue to hold tax credit spending unaccountable and expect to fully fund K-12 education or not cut higher education.

I believe tax credit reform means that all tax credits should be required to be approved like every other state expenditure of your tax dollars; through the appropriations process. The appropriations process is where Missourians, through their elected representatives, have the ability to decide their priorities. By treating tax credits just like every other state expenditure, the General Assembly could weigh the benefit of a tax dollar spent on a credit against other state services like education.