Editorial -- The People of Missouri Have Spoken

The people of Missouri have spoken. People in every corner of the state overwhelmingly rejected measures that would have given blank checks to politicians. Amendment 4 would have given politicians a blank check to rewrite our state constitution while making it much harder for citizen petitions to get off the ground. Amendment 5 would have given politicians a blank check to jack up sales taxes and tax goods and services that have historically never been taxed in Missouri. 

People have overwhelmingly elected a conservative majority in the state. But we believe in checks and balances. An informed public is essential to reigning in the excesses of any body of government, regardless of who is in charge. The legislature has just as much of a right to participate in the process as anyone else. They can and do put measures on the ballot, and some of them get passed. The current state of affairs is fair and adequate.

Regarding Amendment 5, none of us like to pay taxes. But taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized society. People have been hammered with inflation since COVID-19 broke out in this country, and the sticker shock from sales taxes would have made it even worse and discouraged the very economic activity the legislature says it supports.

People want roads, bridges, and schools fully funded, a law enforcement system that puts criminals behind bars and takes crime seriously, and more control over their own lives.

The margin of defeat of Amendments 4 and 5 show that there is a serious gap of trust between the politicians and the public. If they want to earn it back, one thing they could do is restore local control to our counties and cities. 

Local control for CAFO's was fair and adequate. Some places, like Mercer County, welcomed them with open arms in response to the 1980's farm crisis. Other places, like Worth County, are much more skeptical. The same thing applies to data centers. Some places welcome them with open arms. Other places, including people in Nodaway County, are much more skeptical and have concerns about health, water, and quality of life. 

Letter to the Editor -- Amendment 4 Destroys 118 Years of Missouri Tradition

Amendment 4 destroys 118 years of Missouri tradition 

This August, politicians in Jefferson City want to take away your voting power.

A promise was written into the Missouri Constitution 118 years ago: “The people reserve power to propose and enact or reject laws and amendments to the constitution by the initiative, independent of the general assembly.”

The initiative process is our ultimate check and balance. When politicians refuse to listen, it gives voters the power to step in and fix things. Signatures from hundreds of thousands of Missourians throughout the state are collected to place an amendment or proposition on the ballot for the people’s vote.  Citizen-led initiatives brought changes such as term limits, legalized marijuana, crack down on lobbyist gifts to politicians, limits on taxation without voter approval, minimum wage increase, and expansion of Medicaid.

Amendment 4 ruins that balance. It changes the rules to make it nearly impossible for citizen initiatives to pass. By forcing a vote to win a majority in all eight congressional districts, a tiny minority of Missouri voters in just one area could cancel out a landslide statewide win. 

Former Governor John Ashcroft warned against this back in 1992, vetoing a similar attack: “It is through the initiative process that those who have no influence with elective representatives may take their cause directly to the people.”

Politicians are trying to kill this check on their power. Learn more about Amendment 4 at RespectMOVoters.org/a4, and on August 4 vote NO on Amendment 4.

  

Thank you.

Nancy Zeliff

Skidmore MO

 

Four Amendments on August 4th Ballot

There will be four amendments on the Missouri Ballot for August 4th.

Amendment 1 will renew the Parks & Soil Sales Tax. It is not a tax increase; it is a renewal of an existing sales tax that has funded state parks, historic sites, and soil conservation programs since 1984.

Amendment 2 requires charter counties to elect their assessor instead of allowing charter counties to appoint their own. This measure affects St. Louis County, Jackson County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, and Clay County. It does not affect any local counties, all of which already elect their assessor.

Amendment 4 raises the bar to pass constitutional amendments in Missouri. Such referendums must pass a majority of congressional districts as well as pass by a majority votes.

Amendment 5 phases out the income tax in Missouri and gives lawmakers the unlimited power to raise sales taxes to replace it with as well as tax new goods and services that had not been taxed before.

The measure to repeal the right to reproductive healthcare in Missouri will be on the November ballot.