Missouri’s primary election will be here before you know it. Many candidates running for office are shaking hands and making their pitches to the people that they want to serve.
In the race for Missouri lieutenant governor, Rep. Richard Brown, D-Kansas City, said if elected, one of his key priorities is eliminating the state tax on food and groceries. He said the needs of Missouri families are being ignored.
“This is something I’ve been advocating for for the past two or three years,” he told Missourinet. “We consistently, in this state, we like to hear folks talk about the corporate tax rate and elimination of corporate taxes. Here’s the truth, Missouri has the second lowest corporate tax rate in the nation. If business isn’t coming to Missouri, it ain’t because of the tax rate.”
The Missouri House assistant minority floor leader said that he wants to prioritize the needs of everyday Missourians. A day one priority involves making housing affordable.
“Everything has marble and granite in it,” said Brown. “Whatever happened to Formica and laminate? What happened to the materials that make housing affordable for people? We’ve got to do a better job of it. Where I’m from in Kansas City, the city council, a few months ago, defined affordable housing for two people as a one-bedroom apartment at $1,180 a month. That’s not affordable!”
He also said that property tax rates are too high. Pointing to last year’s property tax relief exemption law which allows counties to freeze the property tax rates of Missouri seniors, he does not think it will do enough to help the state’s elderly population.
Brown said that, despite there being a “Democrat” next to his name, he emphasized that bipartisanship gets things done in Jefferson City.
“When we’re running in elections, we run as Democrats, and we run as Republicans,” he said. “But when you get to Jefferson City and you’re in that Capitol, you are a public servant. People expect you to help them. They don’t expect you to get caught up in all these crazy conversations about these social issues. People need help.”
The other Democrat running in this race is Anastasia Syes.
Republicans running for lieutenant governor next month include Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, R-Scott City, Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, Dave Wasinger, Paul Berry III, Matthew Porter, and Tim Baker, as well as Libertarian Ken Iverson.
Missouri’s primary election is on Tuesday, August 6th.
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