Missouri Governor Mike Parson

Missouri just became an even more attractive place for hardworking taxpayers to earn a living and prosper thanks to two recent actions by Governor Mike Parson (R-Missouri).  

Governor Parson made it easier for Missourians and out of state workers on the job hunt to work in the Show-Me State on Monday by enacting House Bill 2046, legislation that eliminates barriers to employment for out-of-state occupational license holders as well as prohibits occupational licensing boards from discriminating against non-violent offenders.

In addition to tearing down barriers to employment, Governor Parson has also made clear that Missouri residents don’t have to worry about tax hikes. Governor Parson has done so by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. In making this written commitment to Missouri voters, Governor Parson has promised that he will “oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes” while in office. Governor Parson wisely recognizes the last thing Missourians need right now is for lawmakers to dig even deeper into their pockets and harm economic growth via job-killing tax hikes.

“With taxpayers facing the economic uncertainty brought on by coronavirus, it is important as ever that we have leaders like Parson in the governor’s mansion who have committed in writing to safeguard taxpayers from the Left’s opportunistic tax hikes,” said Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform. “I want to congratulate Gov. Parson for making this principled commitment to individuals, families, and employers across Missouri.”

Americans for Tax Reform asks all candidates for state and federal office to sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. In the 116th Congress, 48 U.S. Senators and 172 members of the U.S. House of Representatives are pledge signers. Pledge signers include Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise. Joining them in signing the Pledge are 12 sitting governors and nearly 1,000 state legislators across the country.

Gov. Parson is one of the 12 incumbent governors and was the first Republican party gubernatorial candidate in Missouri to have signed the Pledge—followed by Representative James Neely. These two candidates are the only Republican candidates running for Missouri governor this year to have made a written commitment to families and businesses that they will hold the line against higher taxes. ATR will continue to follow this race closely and will provide additional updates as more candidates sign the Pledge.