House committee votes to eliminate newspaper sales tax exemption

Newspaper publishers in Missouri could have to pay more to buy paper, ink and other supplies under a measure that has been endorsed by a House panel.

In a 7-5 vote Wednesday, the House Tax Reform Committee backed a proposal to eliminate sales tax exemptions on newspaper equipment in order to help fund state aid to the blind.

The full House is currently debating a budget that would eliminate a $30 million program that provides medical care to about 2,800 blind people and instead set aside $6 million for a slimmed-down aid program.

An estimate included with the proposal says it could generate up to $4.2 million of additional money for blind aid.

The measure now goes to the full House.