Editor’s Note: The following information was compiled by Audrey Schlote. We appreciate her generosity in allowing us to pass this along to our readers.
There are already two items on the November 2022 ballot for Missouri voters to decide, with the possibility of two more:
Amendment 1: State Treasurer Investment Authority Amendment (2022)
Amendment 1, State Treasurer Investment Authority Amendment (2022) is about amending the constitution to override the current constitutional restrictions and give permission to the state treasurer to “allow state investments in municipal securities possessing one of the top five highest long-term ratings or the highest short-term rating.” This comes now because of an influx of funds from COVID federal money and tax revenues and also the current low interest rates. It was proposed in January 2021 as HJR 35 and passed both the House and Senate with only 1 “no” vote. State governmental entities estimate no costs and increased interest revenue of $2 million per year. Local governmental entities estimate no costs and increased interest revenue of at least $34,000 per year. There is no current opposition.
Missouri Constitutional Convention Question (2022)
The second item already on this year’s ballot is called the Constitutional Convention Question and it is about holding a constitutional convention to revise and amend Missouri’s constitution. This item comes around every 20 years automatically. It was not proposed by anyone or any party. In 2002, voters rejected it 65% to 34%. In 1982, voters rejected it 61% to 38%. It is a yes or no item. One reason given “for” is that there has been a lot of stuff added to the state constitution in the last 20 years that shouldn’t be there; this convention would clean those items up. One reason given “against” is that right now there is great political strife and discord; everyone with an agenda will want their ideologies in the constitution and this would be a detriment.
Missouri Public School Accreditation and Funding Initiative (2022)
A third item that is being proposed for the November ballot is called the Missouri Public School Accreditation and Funding Initiative. It is not on the ballot yet. It is a ballot initiative out for signatures now and pegged for November 8. The wording on it is tricky! It sounds like you want to vote “no,” but to support public schools you must read carefully. Hidden in the phrasing are the words “non-public.” This item supports the voucher system and charter schools, which are not accredited, and funnels state money in those directions, away from public schools.
The initiative petition is seeking to overturn a current program Republicans put in place that takes tax money away from public schools ($25-M – $50M) and redirects it to private schools. The petition is sponsored by a group with connections to public school boards and the NEA (teacher union). For Missouri’s education budget, $50M is less than 1% of this budget. Missouri’s education budget is 21% of state expenditure and has a budget of almost $7.5B.)
Here is what the initiative petition REALLY proposes: if it passes, it stops MO legislators from taking taxpayer money away from public schools and redirecting it to private schools. It also proposes that private and charter schools be held to a uniform method of evaluation and accreditation by the state board of education, especially if they are receiving taxpayer funding.
The item reads like this (and, yes, the wording has already been challenged in court);
So, when you read that first part about taking away opportunities for disabled, special needs, and economically disadvantaged students, DON’T be swayed. Read the whole thing, because this item really wants to take away the funding from public schools, where those disabled, special needs and economically disadvantaged students go to school. Private schools have the option to decline students; public schools accept everyone.
HJR 79
Another item that has been discussed as potentially on the November ballot is currently HJR 79 which focuses on changing the rules on citizen petition initiatives. It was proposed in January 2022 and is now in the Missouri Senate for consideration at the time of this writing.
If passed HJR 79 would make it harder for citizens to get items on the ballot.
There are only 14 states that allow ballot initiatives from citizens and Missouri is one of them. Currently 300,000 signatures (8% of voters) are required across 6 of 8 congressional districts and then a majority vote to pass the item. The changes would be 400,000 signatures (10% of voters) and a 2/3 majority to pass an item.
At first glance, you might think that moving from 8% to 10% isn’t that extreme. However, in reality this is an unattainable standard. No ballot initiative has gotten 66% of the vote, which is also higher than legislators require to pass laws. Legislators only need 50%.
Also, getting an additional 100,000 votes requires at least 1000 additional volunteer hours of gathering signatures, which currently takes a minimum of 3000 hours (10 signatures an hour is a fast pace). Of the last 85 or so ballot initiatives proposed, only about 10 have gotten on the ballot (about 12%). The process is already stringent. It does not need to be elevated.
The item, if it reaches the ballot, will be phrased in such a way that it will sound like the change is needed to secure the process for Missouri voters. This is misleading; the process is already significantly daunting. Petition initiatives don’t need realignment in this way. Please spread the word.
###
The Franklin County Democratic Central Committee meets the last Monday of each month. Due to COVID, meetings are currently being held via Zoom. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Photo Credit: