Amendments and Proposition
Voting is a scary thing. Didn’t used to be…least no where as bad as it is today.
I’ve written a number of initiatives. At least three were accepted by the Missouri Secretary of State and Missouri’s Attorney General. I’ve had many conversations with the offices of both. Back in the day, I thought, at least the Secretary of State’s Office was reasonably reputable to work with. Unfortunately, that was pre-Trump. This is now.
Through the years, I have read stories about how, in some states, SOSs would manipulate the wording of the summaries to affect the way people would vote regarding Cannabis reform.
Not all states have the “initiative process”. Only sixteen states can do a “Direct Initiative” like Missouri. Most have to rely on the lawmakers regarding the creation of law. With a “Direct Initiative, citizens can bypass lawmakers, even the Governor, to put an issue on the General Ballot.
Initiatives are a big deal here in Missouri. The initiative process gave the majority of Missourians a voice regarding Cannabis reform and the abortion issue when lawmakers refused to listen to the will of the majority.
For citizens to get an issue placed on the General Ballot, it requires the gathering of signatures from all across a state. It’s a lot of volunteers logging a lot of hours. But even with all the effort and money that goes into putting an issue before the people, even after all the “I’s” have been dotted and all the “T’s” have been crossed, it can all be laid waste by one individual. The Secretary of State.
You see, even with all that goes into putting an initiative on the ballot, it is the SOS (only) who produces the Summary description, not the writer of the initiative. And with issues that are controversial, his opinions are all too often evident.
And it’s the “Summary” that citizens will read before casting their vote.
With my last attempt at REAL legalization, the SOS went out of his way to bury my initiative, tacking a ridiculous, unsubstantiated price tag onto my bill. Without the financial means to challenge the “summary” in court, I could do nothing but watch REAL legalization slowly die here in Missouri.
Missouri’s current Secretary of State, Republican Denny Hoskins has already been making national news with his questionable behavior regarding Gerrymandering to serve the interests of the GOP. His political manipulations have also been reflected in the summaries for this upcoming election. Deliberately confusing language has apparently become the norm.
It’s vitally important that voters carefully read each and every Amendment and Proposition carefully. They must have a clear understanding of just what it is that they are voting for.
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There are four Constitutional Amendments and one Proposition. Let’s take a look at them.
Constitutional Amendment No. 3
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- Repeal the 2024 voter-approved Amendment providing reproductive healthcare rights, including abortion through fetal viability.
- – Allow abortions for rape and incest (under twelve-weeks’ gestation), emergencies, and fetal anomalies;
- Allow legislation regulating abortion;
- Ensure parental consent for minors’ abortions;
- Prohibit gender transition procedures for minors?
This is an excellent example of GOP manipulation. It’s all about “buzz” words; what they think will infuriate their base. Their own form of twisted psychology. Truth has nothing to do with it.
The first line sums up the WHOLE purpose of this Amendment. To REPEAL the 2024 “voter-approved” amendment” (regarding abortion). And that is followed up with “Allow legislation regulating abortions”.
It’s all about denying the will of the majority for the sake of a divisive minority.
A big NO vote from me.
Constitutional Amendment No. 6
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- Expand the initiative and referendum petition process by making it a fundamental right:
- -allow courts to revise ballot summaries through lawsuits;
- Prohibit the legislature from weakening initiative or referendum powers;
- Prohibit the legislature from changing or repealing laws enacted through the initiative process, or passing laws similar to those rejected by referendum, without approval from at least 80% of both chambers, and
- Preserve existing majority vote and signature requirements for initiative and referendum petitions?
If this were to pass, it would seriously disrupt the Republican effort, at least in this state, to weaken citizens’ ability to use the Initiative process. We MUST do all we can to protect our right to “initiative”. It is quite literally our last semblance of self-rule. Without it, and no REAL representation from Jefferson City, all we are left with is Fascism.
This is a MAJOR YES vote from me.
Constitutional Amendment No. 7
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to establish a permanent public endowment fund to support state government instead of taxing Missouri residents, prohibit the General Assembly from appropriating or diverting the fund, and eliminate state-imposed taxes once the fund generates sufficient revenue to replace them?
With no reference for where the funding for this “endowment fund” would come from, who will be implementing it, how it would be implemented, and the risks… the number of questions, …and fears, that arise with this Amendment continue to grow.
This is a NO vote from me.
Constitutional Amendment No. 8
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to support law enforcement by preserving the right of citizens to elect a county sheriff, prohibiting the removal of a county sheriff, except by a writ of quo warranto, and recognizing the office of sheriff as part of the administration of justice?
My biggest beef with this Amendment is how it strips authority away from municipalities and Counties.
This is a NO vote from me.
Proposition A
Do the people of the state of Missouri approve the act of the General Assembly entitled “House Bill No. 1 (2025 Second Extraordinary Session)” which repeals Missouri’s existing congressional plan, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more counties intact?
This Proposition is a blatant give-away to the Republican Party. I mean, this Proposition literally reshapes districts to maximize a GOP voting base. I guess if you’re a Republican or Maga, denying representation to whole communities may seem like a good political move. But for me, I believe EVERYONE has a right to be heard, not just the Republican elite.
This is a hard NO vote for me.
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“Cannabis is nontoxic. Cannabis is food. Cannabis is the single most important medicine of the 21st century.”
