State Rep. Jason Holsman (D-45) on “Missouri Viewpoints”

Economy, taxes, health care and effort to block tax funding of stem cell research among topics discussed

(Grandview, MO) – Missouri State Representative Jason Holsman of Kansas City says lawmakers are hamstrung from the needed flexibility to address the current recession and its impact on the state. Pointing to a “…tax code that developed in the 1930’s and hasn’t been changed since…”, Holsman says the state needs to look for a long term solution to shortfalls in revenue and also takes aim at the “Hancock Amendment” that limits the amount of revenue that state government can collect.

Among the second-term Democratic Representative’s priorities is investing in health care, including his effort to put every child in the state on public health care with the long-range goal of universal health care being implemented in Missouri.

Holsman also supports Governor Nixon’s “Show Me Jobs” initiative, saying that it will particularly help small businesses in the state create jobs.

When discussing the effort to place a ballot initiative before voters in 2010that would stop public funding of embryonic stem cell research, Holsman says the measure would be a step in the wrong direction. Calling the proposal part of “…a social and religious and philosophical agenda…”, Rep. Holsman states that he wants state policy to go in the opposite direction and support the research, and the life sciences industry in general, as an investment.

Other issues discussed are proposed changes to the process that determines who may operate state license fee offices, the recently awarded tax credits for the Kansas City Chiefs to lure the team’s annual training camp to St. Joseph and the current budget shortfall that Missouri faces.

The complete interview can be viewed at www.missouriviewpoints.com.

Learn more about Representative Jason Holsman by visiting www.jrholsman.com.

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