The impulse to reduce business fees is laudable but, as always, the proverbial devil will be in the details.
Secretary of State Jason Kander recently announced an initiative to cut fees paid by businesses in Missouri to the lowest in the nation.
Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, plans to pre-file legislation based on Kander's proposal. Prefiling of bills begins Dec. 1 for the regular session that convenes in January.
Although the specifics have not been hammered out, Stephanie Fleming, a spokesperson for the secretary's office, said the goal is to reduce fees to cover the processing costs.
The new initiative follows action by Kander in July to expand the online filing system, which increased electronic filings from five forms to about 35, almost every form required by the office. Businesses may access the website at www.sos.mo.gov/fileonline.
In making the announcement, Kander said: "Cutting business fees to the overall lowest in the country is another significant step we can take to simplify business creation and show the nation that Missouri is the best state in the U.S. to start a business."
Wallingford added: "Small businesses want to spend their time and resources creating jobs, not paying fees."
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the state's largest business advocacy group, already has signaled its support.
We await specifics, but we're on board with the concept.
Electronic filing offers dual virtues.
First, it enhances simplicity and convenience for companies doing business in Missouri.
And, when state government reduces its processing costs, the savings deserve to be passed on to businesses in the form of reduced fees.
The competition among states for economic development has been well documented.
Kander's initiative has potential to provide Missouri with a desirable advantage.