It appears that Missouri may beat Michigan in adopting a state FairTax.  In so doing they will benefit from having the most attractive business tax environment in America, rather than Michigan.  Michigan FairTax Association Executive Director, Roger Buchholtz, lamented, "The early bird gets the worm.  Unless Michigan acts right away, businesses, rather than moving to a welcoming Michigan, will already have moved to a welcoming Missouri."

Once other states have attracted businesses and jobs to their states by eliminating businesses taxes Michigan will have to do the same thing to compete.  Buchholtz added, "We must be first in offering a tax-free business environment in order to maximize the benefits we will receive from eliminating the ruse of business taxes.  We can be first in creating the best business tax environment in the U.S. by adopting the Michigan FairTax Proposal . . . or we will end up being a "Me too" state to the "Show me" state."

The Michigan FairTax is a more stable revenue source than income and business taxes, and raises the revenue in a way that removes state taxes and tax compliance costs from the prices of Michigan produced goods and services, thereby making Michigan business and labor more competitive.

On April 10th, the Columbia Missourian ran a newspaper article announcing the progress of the Missouri FairTax in their Legislature.  In the few days since this article was published the Missouri House of Representatives passed by a 90 to 65 vote the Missouri FairTax bill (HJR-36) and it will now go to the Missouri Senate.  Buchholtz commented, "Ten Democrats joined Republicans and together they did the right thing by setting politics aside in the best interest of the people."

The unprecedented huge turnout at the Tax Day Tea Parties across Michigan last week would seem to indicate that the public is ready for real tax reform and the solution promised by the Michigan FairTax Proposal to Michigan's economic woes.  Buchholtz said, "It's time for our legislature and governor to listen to the people and place the MFTP on the 2010 ballot so citizens can vote on this issue.  Forcing citizens to collect signatures on petitions to place it on the ballot is a failure of leadership by our legislators."