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Missouri lawmakers send tax amnesty bill to Nixon

Legislation designed to aid some delinquent taxpayers in Missouri is on its way to Gov. Jay Nixon's desk.

The House on Thursday overwhelmingly passed HB 384, the "tax amnesty" bill, which would allow people behind on their state income taxes to pay them off without additional penalties or interest.

The measure is also expected to generate around $60 million in revenue that Senate President Pro-tem Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, says can be used to restore dental benefits for Medicaid recipients.

"For all the discussion about our opposition to expansion of Medicaid, we're still taking steps to improve the lives of Missourians," Dempsey said. "This is a positive step."

Credit Marshall Griffin | St. Louis Public Radio

If Nixon signs the bill into law, delinquent taxpayers would have to pay their back taxes between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, and then comply with Missouri tax laws for eight years to receive amnesty.

Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, had threatened to filibuster the tax amnesty bill unless it was used to fund Medicaid dental benefits. His amendment adding the dental language was approved before the Senate passed the bill Tuesday on a 26-7 vote.

The House vote was much larger, 150-4. Rep. Jeremy LaFaver, D-Kansas City, voted for the bill but criticized Schaaf's veto threat, saying his filibuster threat "hijacked" the legislative process.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:   @MarshallGReport

Copyright 2020 St. Louis Public Radio. To see more, visit .

Marshall Griffin is the Statehouse reporter for St. Louis Public Radio.
Marshall Griffin
St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.
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