Wrap: Prior to the state of the state, Governor Jay Nixon shot down the idea of cutting Missouri's income taxes as has been proposed in the legislature.

Nixon says Missouri's tax rates are already predictable and low enough and sees no need to match cuts passed last year in Kansas.  

Nixon says he would rather invest more in education as an economic development tool.

However, House Speaker Tim Jones says Western Missouri lawmakers are feeling more and more pressure to compete.

Kansas taxpayers saw a nearly 25 percent decrease in the top rate this year.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Nick Thompson.

Wrap: Nixon says Missouri's income tax rates are already low and predictable enough and they don't need to be cut the same way they were in Kansas.

But Republican House Speaker Tim Jones says Kansas taxpayers and businesses have an edge and was disappointed Nixon didn't offer a new vision for tax policy in the "State of the State" address.

But Kansas' tax cuts spurred a recent Supreme Court decision where the state's education funding was ruled inadequate.

And Nixon says he would rather invest in education as an economic development tool, not cut taxes.

Reporting from the state capitol, I'm Nick Thompson.