Friday, March 2, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt and Jetton Work to End Social Security Cut for Missouri Seniors
LEE'S SUMMIT–Gov. Matt Blunt and Speaker Rod Jetton visited with Missouri seniors and discussed their proposal to end the unfair tax on Social Security benefits, the Senior Tax Justice Act.
“The Social Security tax is an unjust Social Security cut, and with the help of leaders like Speaker Jetton in the General Assembly we are working to put an end to that cut,” Gov. Blunt said. “This is not a problem we created but it is one we can fix. This tax cut will ensure that Missouri seniors keep more of their well deserved and well earned Social Security benefits.”
“I’ve heard from seniors all over the state and they keep telling me the same thing,” said Speaker Jetton. “This tax doesn’t make sense. We’re one of only 15 states that still tax this needed income. We’re in a position, as a state, to help our seniors and retirees by making what’s wrong right.”
Numerous seniors count on their Social Security benefits to make it from one month to the next, and due to bad decisions Missouri remains one of only a handful of states that continue to tax these benefits. Early figures show that by ending the state’s tax on Social Security benefits hundreds of thousands of Missourians will see their tax burden reduced.
The governor and speaker are visiting with seniors at the Hannibal Nutrition Center in Hannibal, St. Andrew’s Senior Apartments in Kirksville, Westchester Village in St. Joseph and John Knox Village in Lee’s Summit on Friday, and yesterday met with seniors at events in Columbia and Shrewsbury.
###