WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) on Tuesday introduced legislation to overhaul and simplify the American tax system. The bill, based upon a proposed tax system known as the “FairTax”, would replace our complicated and costly tax system with a flat national consumption tax and eventually close the Internal Revenue Service.

“Overhauling the American tax system is not an easy undertaking, but the economic need for a leaner and fairer tax code has never been greater,” Sen. Moran said. “Reducing costly inefficiencies and the burden of filing taxes should be a priority in this Congress. The FairTax would place all taxpayers on equal footing, protect Americans from government intrusion by the IRS, boost business growth, and incentivize savings and investment – all while collecting revenue at levels similar to those of our current mess of a tax code.”

“In order for America’s economy to thrive in today’s international economy, we must remain competitive,” said Sen. Perdue. “Instituting the FairTax will level the playing field and make America the best place in the world to do business. The FairTax is smart policy that will help protect hardworking Georgians and all American taxpayers.”

The FairTax would repeal all federal personal income taxes, corporate income taxes, payroll taxes, self-employment taxes, capital gains taxes and gift and estate taxes, and replace those with a revenue-neutral, personal consumption tax on all retail sales of new goods and services. U.S. Representative Bob Woodall (R-Ga.) has introduced the companion bill, H.R. 25, in the House of Representatives.

“The FairTax Act deserves to be heard in a committee setting, debated, and given an up or down vote,” Sen. Moran continued. “This tax reform proposal would have a positive impact on millions of taxpayers, allowing Americans to once again be in charge of their lives and money.”

“Americans For Fair Taxation® is thrilled that Senators Jerry Moran and David Perdue are leading the fight for real tax reform,” said Steve Hayes, Chairman and President, Americans For Fair Taxation. “The Senators’ sponsorship of the FairTax® serves notice that it is time for Congress to stand with the American people and enact the only tax replacement plan that will generate jobs, stimulate the economy and free the American people from the shackles of a punitive and out-of-control IRS.”

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – Columbia police say a man who offered to help a motorist along Interstate 70 was attacked, robbed and left unconscious on the side of the highway.

Police say the man, whose identity wasn’t released, was driving along the highway near Columbia when he saw a vehicle on the side of the road and pulled over to help.

Authorities say two men attacked him, but didn’t specify the type of weapon that was used. The victim says he called police once he regained consciousness. The Columbia Daily Tribune reports he was then taken to the hospital.

Police ask anyone with information to call the Columbia Police Department.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The reward for information to help solve the shooting death of a 7-month-old Kansas City, Kansas, boy has increased to $5,000.

An anonymous donor added $3,000 to the reward fund Tuesday seeking leads to lead to an arrest in the death of Ja’Quail Mansaw

The boy died Jan. 4 in a drive-by shooting at his family’s home. His mother was slightly wounded when the shots hit the home.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.

LOUISBURG – A Kansas man died in an accident just before 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday in Miami County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1988 Ford F 250 pickup driven by Gerald L. Wolken, 55, Greeley, was westbound on Kansas 68 just east of U.S. 169.

The driver went left of center and hit semi head-on.
Wolken was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.

The semi driver Franklin W. Britton, 50, Salina, was transported to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

The KHP reported Wolken was not wearing a seat belt.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — CHI Health has laid off 156 workers across Nebraska and southwestern Iowa — about 1 percent of its workforce in the area.

The employees were notified on Tuesday.

CHI Health CEO Cliff Robertson says Catholic Health Initiatives, that nationwide system that includes CHI Health, last year asked its regional networks for cutbacks.

In its explanation for the layoffs, CHI Health didn’t discuss its contract squabble with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska. CHI has acknowledged that its patient load has dropped as a result of leaving the Blue Cross network.

Blue Cross says CHI Health charges 10 to 30 percent more than other Omaha hospitals. CHI Health says those figures are misleading and that its total cost of treatment is lower even if certain services cost more.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Kansas City police say they’re investigating a one-car crash involving an off-duty officer who left the scene in December.

Police say the officer was driving on a city street on Dec. 27 when his vehicle left the road and hit a fire hydrant, light pole and gas meter before coming to a stop halfway in the street and halfway on the sidewalk.

Authorities say a second off-duty officer at a nearby business called in the wreck to dispatchers.

The Kansas City Star reports the officer involved in the crash was gone by the time officers arrived to investigate. The police report says he called someone to pick him up.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – The Missouri Supreme Court is limiting the sales tax exemptions for items used for construction.

In three separate cases Tuesday, the high court barred businesses from claiming sales tax breaks on cranes, asphalt and steel beams used in constructing buildings and paving roads.

Business groups quickly vowed to pursue legislation that would effectively reverse those rulings.

Tracy King is the vice president of government affairs at the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She says she will be working with others to craft a bill as soon as next week.

King contends that the Supreme Court has misinterpreted the Legislature’s intent and that the rulings incorrectly limit the types of manufacturing that should qualify for a sales tax exemption.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today praised Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s selection of Missouri’s Whiteman Air Force Base as one of the four stops—each dedicated to a different branch of the armed forces—of his farewell tour. After Secretary Hagel’s tour of the base, McCaskill released the following statement:

“Secretary Hagel made a fitting choice when he selected Whiteman Air Force Base to showcase the enormous prowess of the U.S. Air Force. The men and women who are stationed and work at Whiteman are critical to the defense of our nation’s interests, and the base itself is an important economic engine for the local community and the state.”

McCaskill has long-maintained that Whiteman Air Force Base is vital to national defense, both successfully defending against its possible closure and encouraging its continued growth.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Missouri is moving forward with testing for the national Common Core educational standards for schoolchildren.

The State Board of Education this week approved minimum scores on new assessments to gauge how well students perform on the tests.

Missouri students will take the new test aligned with the Common Core standards for the first time this spring. The national standards in Common Core set goals for what students should learn in kindergarten through high school.

A state law passed last year prohibits scores from the first year of testing to be used against schools.

There are no estimates for how well Missouri children will do on the test, but nationally between 32 and 39 percent of students in states with Common Core are expected score at proficient levels.