Mike Kehoe

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has proposed having citizens vote to phase out the state income tax over the next five years. But is that a viable option for the state budget?

About 60% of Missourians would experience a net tax increase under Gov. Mike Kehoe’s plan because of new sales taxes, while households in the top 1% would see an average tax cut of nearly $40,000.

There are 524 Missourians waiting for treatment and services from the Department of Mental Health. Of those, 446 are in jails throughout the state — incarcerated indefinitely without being convicted of their alleged crimes.

The proposed cuts came out of a "core reduction exercise" requested by Gov. Mike Kehoe. Lawmakers from both parties vowed to undo the reductions but warned the governor could still veto any restoration.

Missouri Mental Health Director Valerie Huhn told state lawmakers that the department and courts need options to get defendants treatment in their communities.

Critics said Heather Hall, a former Kansas City councilwoman, could not be impartial. Missouri state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Northland Democrat, led the opposition to Hall's appointment.

Critics say the mission of the foundation is vague, leaving questions about how taxpayer dollars will be used. Half the funding for the foundation draws from the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, or TANF.

Missouri Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern says former Kansas City Councilwoman Heather Hall, who is married to a retired KCPD officer, cannot be impartial. Nurrenbern needs to sign-off in order to send Hall’s nomination to the full Senate by a Feb. 6 deadline.

Missouri arts and humanities leaders say Gov. Mike Kehoe's proposed budget for the arts would hurt programs across the state — including festivals, performances and museums like the Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City.

Under the proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by House Speaker Jon Patterson, sales tax could be imposed “on transactions involving any goods and services." But Patterson said that will be amended to prevent more taxes on fill-ups.

The National Weather Service is predicting 4 to 9 inches of snow in the Kansas City area, and 8 to 13 inches for southern and central Missouri this weekend.

If Missouri lawmakers agree to all of Kehoe’s proposed supplemental spending, that would represent a year-to-year cut of about $600 million. The future revenue picture is also clouded by the governor's efforts to eliminate the state income tax.