The needs of Missouri families are being ignored, so says Richard Brown, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor and State Representative from Kansas City.
Brown, the Missouri House’s Assistant Minority Floor Leader, said he wants to prioritize the needs of everyday Missourians. A day-one priority involves making housing affordable.
“Everything has marble and granite in it,” he told Missourinet. “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. He points out last year’s property tax relief exemption law which allows counties to freeze the property tax rates of Missouri seniors. Brown said the new law doesn’t do enough to help the state’s elderly population.
If elected, another key priority is eliminating the state tax on food and groceries.
“This is something I’ve been advocating for for the past two or three years,” he said. “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.”
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,” said Brown. “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.”
Brown faces Republican Dave Wasinger, Libertarian Ken Iverson, and the Green Party’s Danielle Elliot in Tuesday’s general election.
Missourinet will be live on election night – bringing you race results and on-site coverage on participating stations.
To hear from Brown’s Republican opponent, listen to Missourinet’s interview with Dave Wasinger.
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