Kenny Hulshof picked a postcard-perfect day downtown to pitch his plan for helping Missouri’s seniors and vets.

Hulshof, vying for the GOP nomination for governor, would seek to freeze property tax assessments for Missourians over 65 who make a household income of $52,000 or less.

Though there are already programs to protect seniors from rising taxes, Hulshof and others argue that rising assessments — which means homeowners pay more, even if the tax rate stays the same — are a backdoor tax increase.

Strengthening laws against abusing the elderly would be a priority as well for Hulshof, he said.

Hulshof also said at today’s Kiener Plaza news conference that he would form a “Veterans Advocacy Corps,” and would make the current Veteran’s Commission a “stand-alone” commission, moving it out from under the state Department of Public Safety.

Responding to a question, Hulshof also indicated that he sides with opponent Sarah Steelman’s call to rescind the one percent earnings tax in St. Louis and Kansas City.

“It’s a drain on the economic growth,” said Hulshof, who studied agricultural economics at Mizzou. “Theoretically, I would like to see the city’s earnings tax eliminated.”

Hulshof