Missouri AFL-CIO Opposes Bill to Eliminate State Income Tax

Union warns proposed constitutional amendment could drastically increase sales and use taxes on working families

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Missouri AFL-CIO is opposing a proposed constitutional amendment that would eliminate the state's income tax and instead allow lawmakers to expand the sales tax to currently untaxed goods and services. The union warns this could drastically increase sales and use taxes, negatively impacting working families.

Why it matters

Eliminating the income tax while expanding the sales tax would shift the tax burden from wealthier individuals to lower- and middle-income Missourians who can least afford it. This could make life more difficult for working families already struggling with the rising cost of living.

The details

House Joint Resolution 174 would put a constitutional amendment on the November ballot asking Missouri voters to grant lawmakers broad authority to expand the state's 4.2% sales tax rate to currently untaxed goods and services, like accounting fees or subscription services. The Missouri AFL-CIO says this would "drastically increase sales and use taxes" and leave many state programs, especially education, "drastically underfunded." Democrats are skeptical of the legislation because it doesn't specify what can be taxed or at what rate, while Republicans say those details will be decided by lawmakers if voters approve the amendment.

  • House Joint Resolution 174 was introduced last week to the House Commerce Committee.
  • The proposed constitutional amendment would be on the November 2026 ballot if approved by the legislature.

The players

Missouri AFL-CIO

The state labor federation representing over 150,000 union members in Missouri.

Ryan McKenna

Secretary-Treasurer of the Missouri AFL-CIO.

Doug Beck

Senate Majority Leader and member of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562.

Ashley Aune

House Minority Leader representing Kansas City.

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What they’re saying

“Generally speaking, we are against any legislation that shifts toward a consumption tax. It shifts the tax burden from wealthy individuals to those that can least afford it. Eliminating the income tax, while sounding good, would drastically increase sales and use taxes on all of the goods and services we use day-to-day.”

— Ryan McKenna, Secretary-Treasurer, Missouri AFL-CIO (labortribune.com)

“We're against anything that raises taxes or creates new taxes on families. The voters are being asked to give the legislature the power to be able to tax anything they want. Everything can be taxed, even your home.”

— Doug Beck, Senate Majority Leader, Member of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 (labortribune.com)

“Imposing new taxes that will increase the cost of virtually everything Missourians buy will instead make their struggles harder.”

— Ashley Aune, House Minority Leader (labortribune.com)

What’s next

The proposed constitutional amendment will be on the November 2026 ballot if approved by the Missouri legislature.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the tension between eliminating the income tax, which may sound appealing, and the potential negative impacts of shifting the tax burden more heavily onto working families through expanded sales taxes. The Missouri AFL-CIO is advocating to protect its members and other low- and middle-income Missourians from bearing a disproportionate share of the state's tax burden.