A leading tax credit critic has a few words of criticism for the Tax Credit Review Commission.

Sen. Jason Crowell, a Republican from Cape Girardeau, has been a loud critic of tax credits for years, questioning their value. Crowell calls tax credits, at best, a short-term, stop-gap substitute for economic growth. He says they give a false impression of economic development.

“True economic success ultimately depends on broad-based, private sector growth where government does not pick winners and losers,” Crowell says, “but instead fosters limited taxes, fair and consistent regulation and business confidence to expand and hire workers.”

Crowell dismisses the Tax Credit Commission’s call to eliminate 28 tax credits and alter 32 others.

“And unfortunately, the Tax Credit Review Commission fell short of doing any substantial reforming the in the process of awarding tax credits,” Crowell says.

Crowell would rid the state of tax credits. Short of that, he would subject tax credits to the annual appropriations process, a step the commission declined to recommend.

AUDIO: Brent Martin reports [:60 MP3]