Voters all across Missouri will be asked to decide seven ballot issues in the Nov. 6 general election.
Among the issues are three competing proposals to legalize medical marijuana. Others would raise the minimum wage across the state, ease restrictions on bingo operators and raise the state’s gasoline tax for highway improvements. Still another promises to address some issues concerning elections and legislative conduct.
All require a simple majority for passage.
Following is a summary of each ballot measure.
Constitutional Amendment 1
Voters will be asked to amend the state Constitution to change the process for redrawing state legislative districts, which is done every 10 years after each federal Census. If passed by a simple majority, the amendment also would change limits on campaign contributions that candidates for the state Legislature can accept from an individual or an entity. For those running for state representative, that limit would be cut from $2,600 to $2,000 per election; for Senate candidates, it would be reduced from $2,600 to $2,500. The amendment also would establish a $5 limit on gifts that state legislators and their employees can accept from paid lobbyists, and prohibit state legislators and their employees from serving as paid lobbyists for two years after leaving office. It also would prohibit political fundraising by candidates on state property and require legislative records and proceedings to be open to the public.
The measure was placed on the ballot after a petition drive.
Supporters of the amendment say it would improve the Legislature’s transparency and integrity, reduce the influence of lobbyists, end a “revolving door” between legislators and lobbyists and improve the redistricting process.
Opponents say the proposed changes would harm the ability of special interest groups to advocate and would not result in more fairly drawn legislative districts. They also complain that the measure contains too many issues and will be confusing to voters. Arguing the last point, opponents failed in a court challenge to have the proposed amendment removed from the ballot.
State governmental entities estimate annual operating costs may increase by $189,000 if the measure is approved. Taxes would not be increased and it would not cost local governments anything.
Constitutional Amendment 2
Constitutional Amendment 3
Proposition C
All three ballot measures ask voters whether Missouri should allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes and create regulations and licensing and certification procedures for its sale. Each would impose a sales tax on purchases. They differ on several points, including whether cities and counties can impose their own bans and how much an individual may be prescribed.
Amendment 2 proposes a 4 percent sales tax, with that money going to health care services, job training, housing assistance and other services for veterans. It would limit prescriptions to 4 ounces of dried marijuana or its equivalent (although that amount could be increased with written orders from two other doctors). Patients could possess a 60-day supply and could grow six plants on their own. Local governments could not pass their own bans on medical marijuana.
The state Department of Health and Senior Services would be the regulatory agency.
Amendment 3 would impose a 15 percent sales tax, with a prescribed limit of 3 ounces each month (with more allowed with written orders from two other doctors). There is no mention of limits on possession or whether people can grow their own plants. Cities and counties could impose their own bans by a public vote. It would create a state Board of Biomedical Research and Drug Development Institute, which would use the revenue generated by sales taxes to develop cures for cancer and other diseases.
Proposition C asks for a 2 percent sales tax and specifies a prescription limit of 2.5 ounces over two weeks, with more allowed with a doctor’s orders. Patients would be allowed to possess up to a 60-day supply and would be allowed to grow their own plants. Money generated by the sales tax would be used for services for veterans, drug treatment, education and law enforcement. The state Department of Health and Senior Services and the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control would be the regulatory agencies. Local governments would be allowed to ban medical marijuana, only through a two-thirds vote of the public.
Voters can vote for one or all three issues. If both Amendment 2 and Amendment 3 pass, the one with the most votes would go into effect. If either or both pass and Proposition C also is approved, a state court likely would decide what will go into effect.
All three were placed on the ballot through separate petition drives.
Constitutional Amendment 4
This issue would ease restrictions on organizations that run bingo games. If passed, members of groups that hold games can help if he or she has been a member for six months rather than the current two years. It also would remove some restrictions on advertising bingo games that court rulings have ruled unconstitutional.
This issue was placed on the ballot by a vote of the General Assembly.
Proposition B
If this measure is passed, the state’s minimum wage would be raised in January to $8.60 an hour from the current $7.85. The proposition would further increase the minimum pay by 85 cents an hour in the following four years until it reaches $12 in 2023. After that, it would increase or decrease each year according to changes in the consumer price index.
The measure also would increase the penalty for failing to pay the minimum wage. Government employers and retail and service businesses with an annual gross income less than $500,000 are exempt from the state minimum wage.
Supporters of the proposition say a higher minimum would advance self-sufficiency for workers and stimulate the economy.
Opponents say it would hurt workers because businesses would reduce work hours and embrace automation, and might lead to inflation.
A petition drive led to this measure appearing on the ballot.
Proposition D
The proposition would increase the state tax on gasoline and diesel fuel by 10 cents per gallon. The tax, now at 17 cents, would rise 2.5 cents per year beginning in July 2019 until it reaches 27 cents in mid-2022. The measure also would raise taxes on alternative fuels, including natural gas and propane.
Analysts say when the tax hike is fully implemented, at least $123 million more a year would be used for local road construction and maintenance and at least $288 million would go for state road and bridge projects. more a year available for state road construction and maintenance.
The state’s share would happen because $288 million from the tax hike would go to the Missouri Highway Patrol, allowing the Legislature to redirect money it had been budgeting to the patrol to the state Department of Transportation.
The proposition also would exempt from state taxes prizes and medals won in the Olympics, Paralympics and Special Olympics.
Supporters say needed road and bridge additions and renovations have been delayed because the gas tax hasn’t increased since 1996.
Opponents contend that the measure, which was placed on the ballot by a vote of the General Assembly, was written to purposely confuse the public, overemphasizing law enforcement because the public in recent years has supported taxes to benefit police.