– National anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist said Wednesday that the Missouri General Assembly should override Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of controversial income tax legislation, House Bill 253.

In a statement, Norquist – the president of Americans for Tax Reform – said House Bill 253 would be a strong step to make Missouri an “economic leader in the region.”

“If Gov. Nixon’s veto is not overridden, lawmakers in Jefferson City would essentially be telling Missouri families and businesses to take a hike to greener pastures like Kansas, Iowa, or Oklahoma,” Norquist said. “Nixon’s liberal tax and spend policies will only continue to take more money out of the pockets of hardworking Missourians and continue the state’s slide towards becoming the next Illinois.”

Norquist’s entrance into the debate was lauded on Twitter by Grow Missouri, a coalition of business and conservative groups hoping to override Nixon’s veto. Last week, the group brought in Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, in an attempt to make a similar case that failure to act could mean the exodus of jobs to states like his.

Despite the announcement, it is unclear whether it will have any impact on the at least six Republicans who have announced their opposition to overriding Nixon’s veto. None of the bill’s public Republican opponents – including Reps. Don Phillips, Nate Walker, Mike Thompson, Jeff Grisamore, Dennis Fowler, and most recently, David Wood – signed Americans For Tax Reform’s pledge against any tax increase.

Members of the Grow Missouri coalition have threatened to back primary opponents to Republican members who side with Nixon.

In discussing their opposition to the bill, many of its GOP opponents have highlighted the argument presented by Nixon and his supporters that the potential revenue decreases could be harmful to the state’s coffers, and subsequently higher education. But aside from that, Nixon has also highlighted a provision in the bill that would raise taxes on prescription drugs and remove a sales tax exemption on college text books.

House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka, has said he would need unanimity from the entire 109 member Republican caucus in order to override Nixon’s veto if no Democrats will vote in favor.