""Cause everything old is new again."
Lyrics by Peter Allen
Tax cut legislation - an issue that extended from last year's regular session to the September veto session - will be new again when state lawmakers convene next week.
Republicans, who hold majorities in both the House and Senate, promise an income tax cut will be a priority when the session begins Wednesday.
Readers will recall a tax cut bill was approved by both houses during last year's regular session and subsequently vetoed by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon. The governor contended the tax cut would threaten funding for education and social services, and lawmakers failed to override his veto.
Among Nixon's objections was one we shared; the legislation contained a fatal flaw - specifically, an apparent drafting error that may have eliminated a sales tax exemption on prescription drugs.
Mindful of past objections, GOP legislative leaders plan to revise, rather than simply revive, last year's measure.
State Rep T.J. Berry, R-Kearney and sponsor of last year's vetoed bill, said the new version would omit "everything that the governor didn't like."
And Sen. Will Kraus, R-Lee's Summit, said this year's proposal would quiet criticism the tax cut was designed "for rich businesses last time."
Nixon, however, said any tax cut must be affordable - although he has not offered specifics - and tied to job creation.
The arguments on the issue are not likely to be substantially different this year.
Democrats will contend the loss of tax revenue will reduce funding for education, mental health and other social services. Republicans will argue a tax cut will help businesses create jobs and transform unemployed Missourians into wage earners.
If Republicans remove offending provisions from their proposal, Democrats might be wise to meet them in the middle.
Democratic refusal to compromise might prompt Republicans to snatch the issue from the Legislature and use the initiative process to put a tax cut proposal to a statewide vote.
On Dec. 23, Secretary of State Jason Kander said such a petition has been approved for circulation around the state, seeking signatures to put the issue on next November's ballot. May 4 is the deadline for turning those signatures in to Kander.
The initiative threat creates calculated risk for Democrats, because a Republican-authored ballot issue might prove more onerous to Democrats than anything they could negotiate in the Capitol.