香港三级片

That鈥檚 how much we paid when we filed our state taxes. It was a good year, well, depending on your perspective. We made more money last year (thanks, President Joe Biden), but weren鈥檛 smart enough about pre-paying some of our taxes or setting enough aside in our kids鈥� college savings accounts.

So, we wrote a check to the government. OK, who am I kidding? Nobody writes checks anymore. We made an electronic payment.

Pushed by House budget chairman, Rep. Cody Smith, R-Carthage, a proposal passed the House last week that would provide up to $500 in tax rebates for some Missourians like me, though it faces an uncertain future in the Senate. The Republicans who lead that chamber want to do what Smith wouldn鈥檛: Spend the $1 billion on teachers鈥� raises and other state priorities.

The debate is an interesting one because in one sense, Democrats and Republicans are united: Members of both parties want to share some of the state鈥檚 financial bounty 鈥� much of it federal pass-through funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (thanks, President Biden) 鈥� with Missourians. But who gets the bounty, and for what purpose?

Democrats in the House, led by Rep. Kevin Windham, D-St. 香港三级片, sought to give up to $1,000 rebates to Missourians living in poverty, including senior citizens on a fixed income, to help them deal with the rising costs of inflation. When Republicans voted down that idea, state Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. 香港三级片, tried to put a cap on incomes so people who make $100,000 or more weren鈥檛 eligible for the rebate sponsored by Smith.

That idea was voted down, too.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, called Smith鈥檚 proposal 鈥渁 rushed and poorly conceived giveaway for the rich,鈥� and she鈥檚 not wrong.

My wife and I won鈥檛 turn our backs on $457, but it strikes me as odd that we should get such a check, while many of the people I wrote about recently who were locked out of their apartments illegally and face skyrocketing rents that have much more to do with greed than inflation, won鈥檛 qualify under the House Republican proposal.

You know who could use $457? Sanciarey Nelson, or Anthony Glasby or Tamara Roseburrow. Each of them works for a living, but they鈥檙e poor enough that it is unlikely they will qualify. The fiscal note on Smith鈥檚 proposal estimates that 877,000 Missourians won鈥檛 qualify for the rebate, because they don鈥檛 have enough tax liability.

Aren鈥檛 those the people who need the money most, who would spend it immediately and help the economy continue its post-pandemic recovery? It鈥檚 likely they are already working. Unemployment is at an all-time low. (Thanks, President Biden).

That鈥檚 why, while lawmakers in many states and cities are discussing tax rebates and direct payments 鈥� such as the federal child tax credit that pulled millions of children out of poverty but has since lapsed 鈥� one of the ideas that is gaining steam is the one floated by St. 香港三级片 Mayor Tishaura O. Jones in her State of the City speech last week.

鈥淔amilies need food, clothes, new shoes for the kids, gas to get back and forth to work. That simplicity should speak to us as leaders,鈥� Jones said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why my administration is exploring the potential of a guaranteed basic income program for St. 香港三级片 families 鈥� monthly payments to help struggling families get out of poverty and stay out of poverty.鈥�

It鈥檚 an idea being tried or discussed in Los Angeles, Chicago and Minnesota.

So, while both Republicans and Democrats are talking about making payments to American families, there is a clear difference in their approach. Missouri House Republicans seem to be following the lead of the national GOP laid out by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. That plan would increase taxes on poor and middle-class Americans and cut Social Security and Medicare. According to nonpartisan analysis of Scott鈥檚 plan, 97% of the cost of it would be borne by people who make less than $100,000 a year.

Like I said, I鈥檇 appreciate a $457 check as much as the next guy. But as a matter of public policy, I鈥檇 rather see my kids鈥� teachers get a raise, or people who are struggling to pay rent get some help.

Either way, it鈥檚 good that Republicans and Democrats have come together on one point of agreement: Some of the bounty from the American Rescue Plan should get directly into the hands of the American people.

Thanks, President Biden.