The Missouri Department of Revenue must now accept joint state income tax returns from same-sex married couples, following an executive order issued Thursday by Gov. Jay Nixon.
Gov. Nixon says the order is necessary for two reasons – because Missouri law requires married couples who file joint federal tax returns to also file joint state returns, and because of the U.S. Treasury Department’s recent decision to recognize same-sex marriages, even for couples living in states that don’t recognize gay marriage.
Nixon also says his executive order does not conflict with the state constitution.
“The question of whether same-sex marriages should be recognized in Missouri is a separate issue, one that I hope that, quite frankly, voters have another opportunity to visit,” he said.
Nixon added that he thinks people should not be treated differently because of who they are.