The rally Saturday was organized by Americans for fair taxation.

There are two versions of a fair tax. One is on the federal level. The other at the state level. A fair tax would get rid of all income and business taxes and replace them with more sales taxes. Proponents say that the government will get the same amount of money under the new plan as the old plan.

Fair tax legislation in Missouri made it to the Senate committee, but then the session ended.

About 1500 people came out to the fair tax rally. Many attendees favor a smaller government.

"The thing that I think is most appealing is that it takes all of the power out of the hands of Congress and puts it into the hands of the people," fair tax supporter Doug Laws said.

The rally had an air of independence.

"I like the idea of grassroots," fair tax supporter Kathy Hull said. "I think Washington and politics in general no longer pay attention to the people that they actually work for."

Rep. Ed Emery (R) Lamar, sponsored the fair tax bill last session. He thinks that government should have less influence and eliminating the income tax is one way to do that.

"It imposes on your liberty because it manipulates you," Emery said. "It gives you a credit over here and it gives you a penalty over here. It tries to force you into a mold that a government bureaucrat thinks you ought to be in."

Opponents say that the fair tax shifts the tax burden onto the poor.

"The math just doesn't add up. Somebody's going to have to pay more, and I have a hunch it's those that are less well off," Bob Quinn of the Organization For Social Welfare said.

Emery said he will resubmit the bill next session.