House committee considers flat rate tax proposal

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Intro:	Some Missouri lawmakers want to slash the income state taxes and are looking at shoppers to pick up the costs.
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Wrap: A flat tax rate would cut the individual income tax to 3.8 percent by 2016, and make up the revenue with a much higher sales tax.

Republican Representative Rick Brattin of Harrisonville says a "flat tax" rate could help the state economy.

Actuality:	BRATTINR.WAV
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Description: "Well I believe it will be a revenue gain. But my attempt was to stairstep, so that way it minimizes the impact."

Opponents to the measure say raising the sales tax might not leave the state with enough money to provide vital services such as education and public safety.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Luke Lyddon.

Intro:	Some Missouri lawmakers say a lower income tax could help the state's economy, but could be a higher price for shoppers at the checkout line.
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Wrap: Republican Representative Rick Brattin of Harrisonville says he wants to create a simpler system to help businesses and individuals with their taxes.

Jay Hardenbrook with the Missouri Budget Project says if this bill considers to cut revenues, it should decide which programs will be cut so services that are essential to the state are still recognized.

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Description: "They just aren't considering what the impact might be. All we ask is that they actually make that sort of consideration, and think about what sort of impacts this will have on the budget in the future."

But opponents say this bill needs to consider the impact it will have on the budget in the future.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Luke Lyddon.

Intro:	Some lawmakers say consumers can benefit from a push to make a lower income tax, but not everyone in the state Capitol agrees.
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Wrap: Republican Representative Rick Brattin of Harrisonville says he wants to help businesses with their taxes by creating a lower income tax and slashing state tax credits.

But Jay Hardenbrook with the Missouri Budget Project says a bill to that could leave the state short on revenue. He says lawmakers should think about what they want to cut first.

Actuality:	JAY1.WAV
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Description: "Maybe come up with the ideas of what sort of programs they want to cut, so that they at least aren't just looking at it in a vacuum of just the revenue side, that they are also looking at the services that are essential to the state."

Hardenbrook says these services include education and public safety, and he says Brattin needs to consider what impacts these will have on the budget in the future.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Luke Lyddon.