Missouri voters have rejected Amendment 5, declining to give lawmakers a blank check to raise or expand sales taxes, something some lawmakers sought to enable enormous income tax cuts for the state’s wealthiest households. Otherwise divided voters were united in rejecting redistributing taxes away from the wealthy, with just 17 percent of voters casting their ballots in favor. Because Social Security benefits are already exempt from Missouri’s income tax, many seniors would have received little or no income tax cut while paying more on everyday purchases. Lawmakers should respect the voters’ decision and abandon efforts to shift taxes away from wealthy households and onto families who spend most of their income on necessities. Missouri needs tax policies that make life more affordable, adequately fund public services, and ask those with the greatest ability to pay to contribute their fair share.