House lawmakers voted in favor of legislation to cut taxes for small businesses Wednesday.

This was the first bill of the year debated on the House floor. It passed 142-17.

Rep. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, the bill’s sponsor, said the legislation would help smaller businesses struggling to compete with large corporation and create job opportunities at the same time.

The bill would entitle small business owners to claim a $10,000 tax deduction for every new full-time job created. The jobs would have to meet or exceed the county’s average wage to qualify.

Opponents, like Rep. Jill Schupp, D-St. Louis, spoke out against another provision in the legislation, one she compared to secession. The stipulation would require state lawmakers to OK federal mandates before they were implemented in Missouri.

The bill needs another vote before moving on to the Senate.

— Missouri Digital News