JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt’s success in creating jobs and growing the economy without tax increases has forced House Democrats to secretly withdraw legislation designed to pick the pockets of hard-working Missourians by imposing draconian tax increases of more than $780 million annually.

The legislation, HB 1960, was sponsored by Democrat state Rep. Jeanette Mott Oxford and stealthily withdrawn on April 11. It would have increased taxes by $785 million, according to an economic analysis by the University of Missouri-Economic & Policy Analysis Research Center for the state Committee on Legislative Oversight.

“It is clear that Democrats realize that Governor Blunt and Republican legislators have been successful in revitalizing our state economy and improving the quality of life for hard-working Missourians without picking their pockets,” said Paul Sloca, communications director for the Missouri Republican Party. “Democrats for years ran our state economy into the ground while looking to the taxpayer to fund their mismanagement - it’s good to see that Governor Blunt’s example has helped them see the light.”

Blunt’s commitment to opposing job-killing tax increases and improving efficiencies in state government has led to additional funding for Missouri schools and a balanced state budget. Holding the line on tax increases also has led to the creation of 37,500 new jobs since Blunt took office in January, 2005, while the state’s current unemployment rate is at its lowest level in years at 4.8 percent.

“These kinds of monstrous tax increase proposals clearly illustrate the Democrat lust for tax taxes that forced Missouri into a $1 billion budget hole forcing spending withholding for Missouri schools,” Sloca said.

Other members of the Democrat team in the House that signed on to the bill increasing Missourians’ taxes were Reps. Beth Low of Kansas City, Mike Daus of St. Louis, Gina Walsh of St. Louis, Leonard Hughes of Kansas City, Rodney Hubbard of St. Louis, John Bowman of Normandy, Maria Chappelle Nadal of University City, Jenee Lowe of Gladstone and Esther Haywood of St. Louis.