GOP members face name calling after voting no on tax cut bill
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GOP members face name calling after voting no on tax cut bill

Date: September 12, 2013
By: Steven Anthony
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 253

JEFFERSON CITY -  After what some are calling a "historic" veto session because of 10 overrides, a few Missourians are disappointed a major income tax bill did not make it through the Republican supermajority. The income tax cut bill, HB 253, failed to garner enough House support to override the governor's veto. Special interest groups like United for Missouri even put a "Wall of Shame" graphic of the 17 House members who changed their "YES" vote to "NO" on the front page of their website. 

"Want to help get rid of Missouri RINOs? Donate $15 today to help us oust the #Flimsy15," the Club for Growth tweeted. The group's mission statement is "to work towards electing leaders that will stand up for economic policies that will help grow jobs and bring prosperity to the State of Missouri."

Five out of those fifteen Republicans able to be reached had something to say back to the Club for Growth about their tweet.

Rep. Nate Walker, R-Kirksville, said despite his strong Republican background, he did what he needed to for his constituents. He said the intimidation and threats from the group to pick a new candidate will not work.

"In the end, the people of the 3rd district will elect who they want to represent them. The 3rd District and Nate Walker is not for sale," Walker said.

Rep. Jeffery Messenger, R-Republic, said he's confused at the way special interest groups try to get things accomplished.

"It's funny how we're in a good position when we do the things those special interest groups want us to do, and we're in a bad position when we do things that they don't want us to do," Messenger said.

Rep. Lyle Rowland, R-Cedarcreek, questioned the Club for Growth's ways of trying to garner support for the veto override.

"They had a tendency to spend a lot of money in advertising to try to get House Bill 253 passed," Rowland said.

Rep. Don Phillips, R-Kimberling City, said if the special interest groups want to spend more money, they should do so.

"It looks to me like they've wasted an awful lot of money so far, so it sounds like they're willing to waste an awful lot of money again to get puppets on a string. Honestly, that's not what I am," Phillips said.

Rep. Lyndall Fraker, R-Marshfield, said no one from the Club for Growth came and talked to him before the veto session.

"I'm not even sure who those people are," he said.

But Carl Bearden, the executive director for United for Missouri had a message for the fifteen Republican lawmakers.

"I tell them that they let down Missourians all across the state who know we need to do something different than we're doing now to stimulate our stagnant economy," he said.

United for Missouri is a grassroots organization that bases their mission statement on lowering taxes and limiting government spending. 

All of the lawmakers who commented said they will be held accountable by their constituents and not by special interest groups.