Mo. lawmakers fail to put vehicle tax on ballots

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A proposal to give Missouri voters a say in reinstating local sales taxes on out-of-state vehicle purchases has died in the Legislature.

Missourians have long paid local sales taxes on vehicles bought out of state when they register them in Missouri. But the state Supreme Court ruled the practice unconstitutional earlier this year.

The Republican-controlled Legislature passed a bill reinstating the sales tax earlier this week. Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon says doing so would be an unacceptable tax increase. He says voters should decide whether the tax is reinstated.

A group of lawmakers had drafted a substitute allowing counties to put the question to their voters. But that measure never came to a vote in the House or Senate before the legislative session ended Friday.


Vehicle tax bill is HB1170

Online:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov