Businesses Benefit as Missouri, Kansas Compete Over Taxes

Everybody should be courted like this

The modern border war between Missouri and Kansas involves tax breaks instead of gunplay, and it's a boon for corporations as lawmakers fight for their business.

Missouri Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, recently filed a bill he calls the Broad-Based Tax Relief Act, which would cut by half the income tax burden for all state-based businesses over five years.

"We're competing with our neighboring states for jobs and we have to do everything we can to remain competitive," he said. "Kansas just cut taxes for more than 190,000 businesses, and we've already heard some Missouri businesses talk about moving across the border."