JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Democratic governor of Missouri has issued an executive order allowing homosexuals in the state who were ‘married’ in other states to file joint tax returns.
“Missouri is one of a number of states whose tax code is directly tied to that of the federal government, and under Missouri law, legally married couples who file joint federal tax returns with the IRS must also file joint state returns with our state Department of Revenue,” Governor Jay Nixon said in a news release announcing the order.
“As a result, accepting the jointly-filed state tax returns of all legally-married couples who file federal returns is the only appropriate course of action, given Missouri statutes and the ruling by the U.S. Department of Treasury,” he said.
In August, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS announced that to reflect the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning key parts of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), homosexuals who are “married” in states where same-sex nuptials are legal will be recognized as couples in the eyes of the federal government. The decision applies whether the individuals live in a state that recognizes same-sex “marriage” or not–just as long as they were enjoined in a state where such unions are permissible.
Nixon said in his release that he was only reflecting the federal government’s decision, and was not legalizing homosexual “marriage” in the state, which is banned by the Missouri constitution. However, he expressed to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he supports the concept.
“Many Missourians, including myself, are thinking about these issues of equality in new ways and reflecting on what constitutes discrimination. To me, that process has led to the belief that we shouldn’t treat folks differently just because of who they are,” he stated. “I think if folks want to get married, they should be able to get married.”
But House Speaker Tim Jones (R) said that Nixon was just trying to appease his liberal friends since Missouri voters had already indicated in 2004 that they opposed the homosexual lifestyle.
“The governor’s job is to defend our state’s constitution—including the constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman that was passed overwhelmingly in this state—not to surrender to the whims of the Obama administration,” he wrote in a statement last week.
Nixon’s order makes Missouri the first state in the nation that has not legalized same-sex “marriage” to allow homosexuals to file joint state tax returns.
As previously reported, Nixon also came under criticism earlier this year when he vetoed a bill that would have prevented judges in the state from using Sharia Law in their judgments, citing fears of endangerment of foreign adoptions and other international concerns.
“There are certainly problems facing our state and nation, but this isn’t one of them,” he said. “The laws passed in Jefferson City have real consequences. This bill could jeopardize a family’s ability to adopt children from other countries.”
Nixon also outlined in his written statement that the legislation is unnecessary and “could invite retaliatory action by a foreign country by denying all adoptions to Missourians.”
Photo: Bernard Pollack
Become a Christian News Network Supporter...
Dear Reader, has ChristianNews.net been of benefit and a blessing to you? For many years now, the Lord has seen fit to use this small news outlet as a strong influential resource in keeping Christians informed on current events from a Biblical worldview. With much compromise and many falsehoods in modern-day Christianity, we strive to bring you the news by keeping Christ and His word in focus. If you have benefited from our news coverage, please prayerfully consider becoming a Christian News supporter by clicking here to make a one-time or monthly donation to help keep the truth of God's word widely and freely published and distributed. May Christ continue to be exalted through this work!
