A proposal to increase taxes on the top four grades of farmland has been rejected by the Missouri House. Representative Casey Guernsey of Bethany says farmers already face higher input costs, and many are still recovering from last summer’s flooding.

Democrat Jilll Schupp of Creve Coeur asked Guernsey why he would substitute his judgment for that of the State Tax Commission. Guernsey replied, “Because that’s the way the system was set up.” The House passed Guernsey’s resolution and sent it to the Senate.