NEA sounds alert: Don't sign petitions for Rex Sinquefield's tax plan

Missouri NEA issued an action alert to its members Wednesday, asking them not to sign any petition to put Rex Sinquefield's so-called Everything Tax, another of the billionaire's plans to make sure that he and the few people in his financial neighborhood pay less in taxes while shifting more of the burden to those who can least afford it.

The NEA's action alert is printed below:

Having failed to get legislative approval for it during the last few sessions, billionaire Rex Sinquefield is funding a petition drive to pass a constitutional amendment in 2012 that would eliminate Missouri’s personal income tax and replace it with the Everything Tax: a new, ten percent, statewide sales tax that would apply to just about everything you buy regularly.

In addition to saddling most Missourians with more tax burden during a difficult time, the Everything Tax will create flaming budget disaster for Missouri. The amount of revenue generated by the Everything Tax will be far less than the amount of revenue currently generated by the income tax. That means that, when this scheme is fully implemented in 2016, it will create a $3.2 billion budget gap, and that’s on top of the state’s already difficult budget situation. If it passes, the state will be forced to make huge cuts to crucial programs, including K-12 education, higher education and healthcare.

Missouri NEA opposes this terrible idea, and that’s why the Association is working with a new group called the Coalition for Missouri’s Future to fight the Everything Tax. MNEA would like you to add your voice to the effort.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW:

1) Please visit the Coalition’s website: http://www.missourifuture.org/

2) If you’re asked, simply refuse to sign any petition that would put
the Everything Tax on the ballot.