The Columbia Daily Tribune: on Corporations

John Brunner: Served as CEO of personal care products manufacturer

Akin, a six-term congressman, took exception. "If I were a career politician, I'd stay in a safe congressional district, wouldn't I? I don't think the Senate is the place for on-the-job training," he said.

Steelman responded that Brunner has surrounded himself with high-priced political consultants who are likely telling him that the winning message is painting his opponents as career politicians.

Brunner, who has poured more than $2 million of his own money into his campaign, called Akin's remarks about on-the-job training "political talk." His opponents' recent job experience "is a little different than being on the production line," he said.

Nicole Galloway: End Missouri's Big Business Bonus: no bonus for early taxes

Individual taxpayers know that if you're late paying your taxes, you'll pay penalties and interest. There's no bonus for meeting the deadline.

Which brings us to what I'd like to call "Missouri's Big Business Bonus." Businesses in Missouri--including the state's largest retailers--pocketed about $124 million in fiscal year 2018 and $120 million in fiscal year 2017--just for turning in the sales taxes they owe on time. Not early, mind you, but by the legal deadline. Those are sales and use taxes that you as a customer paid, but the business got to keep, merely because they paid their taxes on time. Missouri is one of 28 states that offer this break to retailers, but our state's discount for timely payments is the second-most generous in the nation.