5 amendments & 1 proposition
Amendments change the Missouri Constitution. Remember that.
They don't add statute to our books. They change the state CONSTITUTION.
The constitution should be the foundation, the bedrock, the framework for our statutes to build on. It should be a document that stands the test of time, that applies to the entire state and that is protected - not changed with the flinging of a few million dollars to pay out-of-state workers standing in front of our grocery store doors collecting signatures.
And yet, that is what happens. The money buys the signatures and the signatures buy a spot on the ballot for voters to pass or fail.
No committee hearings.
No involvement of the people until election day.
No involvement of lawmakers that you elected to vet public policy.
No vetting whatsoever.
Just signatures gathered from young kids from places like New Jersey, making $30/hr & misleading every person they talk to about what is actually happening.
you need to know what you're voting on
Now that the signatures have been gathered - it's your responsibility to know what you're voting on. Your vote now is the same as any legislators vote at the Capitol and even more important - because your vote will change the very foundation of Missouri's statutory framework.
You can find the ballot language and the full text of each ballot measure on the Secretary of State's website. You'll also find it on my home page.
You're here - that's a good sign. Please keep reading and then share the information with every voter you know.
No action = consent. Remember that, too.
Amendment 2 - LEGALIZES SPORTS BETTING - VOTE NO
This one legalizes and allows the Missouri Gaming Commission to regulate sports betting.
- Online, gambling boats, sports gambling districts
- Must be 21 and physically located in Missouri
- 10% tax on winnings & additional fees assessed
- State legislature can regulate
AMENDMENT 3 - REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS - VOTE NO
UPDATE: As of the evening of 9/6/24, a Cole County judge has ruled that A3 is not suitable for the ballot and it should not have been certified. Opposition has until Tuesday, September 10th to appeal. Should the decision stand, A3 will NOT be on the ballot in November. I'll update the blog as events unfold.
This is the amendment most people are referring to as the abortion amendment. That reference is manipulative and misleading. This amendment pertains to ALL matters related to reproductive health freedom.
ALL matters pertaining to reproductive rights include anything pertaining to gender transition, regular Ob/Gyn care, IVF, cloning, etc etc.
PLEASE subscribe to the blog so you don't miss the next series because we are going to dive deep into this one. You can find more resources on my home page. Check it out and scroll down. You'll find links, downloads and the replay of a weekly webinar I'm hosting. If you'd like to participate next week, you can register there for free.
AMENDMENT 5 - GAMBLING AT LAKE OF THE OZARKS - VOTE NO
This amendment would legalize gambling boats at Lake of the Ozarks. That local community has clearly expressed their disapproval of this, but now it is on a statewide ballot for everyone to vote on.
This is highly inappropriate for the constitution. Even if you approve of a gambling boat at the lake - it does not belong in our CONSTITUTION.
AMENDMENT 6 - FUNDING SALARIES FOR SHERIFFS, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS & CIRCUIT ATTORNEYS - VOTE NO
Again, this is very inappropriate language for our constitution. I agree we need to ensure funding for these positions but it is NOT appropriate material for the constitution. It belongs in state statute.
AMENDMENT 7 - VOTING - RESEARCH & PRAY
This amendment contains 3 issues that all pertain to voting.
1. ONLY U.S. citizens would be allowed to vote. This language is already in our state statutes but it is slightly different in the constitution and they need to align. Currently it says that "U.S. citizens and vote" but it doesn't say who cannot vote. This language is the same in other states where they are now seeing illegal immigrants voting in local elections. We want to protect Missouri fully from that possibility.
2. Bans rank choice voting (RCV). RCV is a long, arduous way of voting & counting votes. Stay tuned. If I can fit it in I'll record a podcast focusing on rank choice voting. Suffice it to say that it is BAD. It leaves an incredible amount of room for foul play in the process.
3. Would REQUIRE the plurality winner of the party primary to be the only candidate for that party in the general election. This is the way it is now, but passing this would mean that couldn't change. I don't love this point because I'd like to see us pass runoff elections under certain circumstances. This would prevent that from happening.
This amendment deserves its own blog & podcast. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss it!
PROPOSITION A - RAISES MINIMUM WAGE - VOTE NO
The proposition is not a change in our constitution, but in our statutes. That is where it belongs, but raising minimum wage is going to be harmful to our already broken economy.
Raising minimum wage will be extremely harmful to our small businesses. The government needs to stop intruding in wages and allow the market to be free. VOTE NO.
more to come
This is the first article in a series where we will dive deep into Amendment 3 and Amendment 7. Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss them!
It's IMPERATIVE that we have educated voters showing up to the polls. Please take time before November 5th to do your due diligence and understand what you are voting on. Then, share that information and the resources with your family & friends!
Episode 3 - Abortion petitions in Missouri
This blog is a supporting document for Episode 3 of the Arise & Build podcast, which is about the petitions already filed with our Secretary of State's office which would protect abortion in Missouri.
Please listen, subscribe & share!
take action
1. Call your legislators and let them know you'd like them to support Concurrent Majority Ratification by House District at every opportunity available to them.
2. Comment on the abortion petitions via link below. These comments are considered during the process and are helpful, especially if the ballot language ends up in court.
Points to consider for your comments:
- Missouri has a history of protecting babies at all stages of life as well as women through programs like MoHealthNet and Show-Me Healthy Babies.
- We value ALL life.
- All human life has intrinsic value - at every stage of development.
- These petitions allow for abortion to be performed up to the birth and possibly beyond
- If we can murder babies at birth or just after birth - where does this stop?
- These petitions deny women the right to sue for malpractice.
- These petitions nullify laws already in place.
LINKS & RESOURCES
episode 2 - Arise & Build podcast
This blog is a list of resources and details related to Episode 2 of the Arise & Build podcast.
Episode 2 is the first in a series about making changes to our state constitution and the measures that you can expect to see on a ballot in 2024 - legalizing full term abortion and gun control.
I highly encourage you to check it out, subscribe and follow along!
map of ratification results in nov '22 - legalizing marijuana
This map shows the results of the Nov '22 election by county. You can see that only 13 counties out of 163 in the State of Missouri wanted to make this change. Because only a simple majority of popular vote is required for ratification, it passed.
2024 Ballot Measures
Issues we will see on the ballot in 2024 will be abortion & gun control. Missouri voters need to understand this issue and do the work it takes to bring and keep righteous statutes in Missouri.
I'll be explaining more of the specifics of these measures on future podcasts, so be sure to subscribe.
take action
1. Call & email the governor. Ask for a special session to pass Concurrent Majority Ratification. 573.751.3222
2. Call & email your representatives & senators. Ask for their support in a concurrent majority ratification resolution that would be based on House districts.
3. SUBSCRIBE & SHARE this information with your friends and family! Our Arise & Build podcast is on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts & other podcast platforms. Arise & Build Podcast
4. DO NOT sign ANY petitions that would enable ANY measures to be added to the Missouri ballot.
5. Vote NO on ANY change to the Missouri Constitution in 2024.
Apologies for my late publication of my focus for the week. I'm blaming the Super Bowl. I hope you were celebrating the BIG WIN, as well and enjoying the break for the crazy world of Missouri politics for a few hours.
YAY for the WIN... now back to reality.
monday, feb 13th
mo senate hearings
1:00 pm in Senate Committee Room 2
There are several bills being heard on the topic of Initiative Petitions and constitutional amendments.
I'm most familiar with Senator Carter's SJR 28 which includes language that would require a concurrent majority in order to pass amendments to the Missouri Constitution. This means when we have a ballot measure and there is a potential change to the MO Constitution a majority of MO House districts would be required to vote in favor of an amendment IN ADDITION to having the majority of the popular vote. The result of concurrent majority requirement is that the rural areas of Missouri would be represented vs the urban areas alone determining the changes to our constitution.
This issue is VERY important. We expect there will be an abortion related amendment on the ballot in 2024. We want ALL Missourians' voiced to count.
There may be other good bills being presented in the hearing as well. I'll do my best to share what I learn.
CALL TO ACTION
Request a YES vote from the committee members.
Senator Elaine Gannon, Chair - 573.751.4008
Senator Sandy Crawford, Vice Chair - 573.751.8793
Senator Jill Carter - 573.751.2173
Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman - 573.751.1492
Senator Andrew Koenig - 573.751.5568
Senator John Rizzo - 573.751.3074
Senator Barbara Washington - 573.751.3158
Email Addresses (copy & paste):
elaine.gannon@senate.mo.gov, sandy.crawford@senate.mo.gov, jill.carter@senate.mo.gov, andrew.koenig@senate.mo.gov, john.rizzo@senat.mo.gov, barbara.washington@senate.mo.gov
THIRD READ & PASS
Subject: Parent's Rights & Transparency
My Opinion: NO. Read the blog for more details.
This bill is perfected and will come before the body of the senate for a yes/no vote.
CALL TO ACTION:
1. Call & email your Senator and let them know what your concerns are with this bill. Ask for a no vote. Senator Eigel has a better option! Nothing at all is better than this. Legislator Lookup Tool
2. Copy the link to this post & send it to a conservative friend!
SENATE BILLS FOR PERFECTION
Subject: Medicaid Expansion. Covers care for 12 months after pregnancy.
My Opinion: Yes IF they amend the bill to prohibit funds for post-abortion care.
CALL TO ACTION:
1. Call & email your Senator and let them know what your concerns are with this bill. Ask for language that would prohibit post abortion care. Legislator Lookup Tool
2. Copy the link to this post & send it to a conservative friend!
tuesday, february 14
hearings
8:15 in the Senate Lounge
Subject: Modifies provisions relating to workforce development in ELEMENTARY and secondary schools.
My Opinion: NO. You very well may disagree with my position. I DO believe our kids need to be proactive and have a plan for their futures. It's smart. It's wise. As a mom, I help my kids think through their options after high school. That said, although I do believe it's wise, I do NOT believe it should be mandated by the State government. My 14 year old 8th grader does NOT need to be worried about choosing a career or where he's going to college. He needs to learn to love learning. He needs to learn to love exploring and experiencing new things. He needs to be a kid. I even believe that's true of my 12th grader. Wise? Absolutely. But mandated? NO. NO. NO.
CALL TO ACTION:
Contact committee members to express your views. I'll be asking for a NO vote.
Andrew Koenig, Chair 573.751.5568
Rick Brattin, Vice-Chair. 573.751.2108
Lauren Arthur. 573.751.5282
Doug Beck. 573.751.0220
Elaine Gannon. 573.751.4008
Denny Hoskins. 573.751.4302
Greg Razer. 573.751.6607
Nick Schroer. 573.751.1282
Curtis Trent. 573.751.1503
Education Committee Emails (Copy & Paste): andrew.koenig@senate.mo.gov, rick.brattin@senate.mo.gov, lauren.arthur@senate.mo.gov, doug.beck@senate.mo.gov, elaine.gannon@senate.mo.gov, denny.hoskins@senate.mo.gov, greg.razer@senate.mo.gov, nick.schroer@senate.mo.gov, curtis.trent@senate.mo.gov
10:00 am in Senate Committee Room 1
SB 49- Senator Mike Moon
SB 164 - Senator Jill Carter
SB 236 - Senator Denny Hoskins
SUBJECT: These 3 bills ban puberty blockers and gender transition surgery for children under the age of 18.
MY OPINION: YES!
All three of these bills are great. They are written to protect our kids from the abuse of the left wing agenda that is targeting kids.
CALL TO ACTION:
1. Pray!! Last week, a whistleblower released the truth about the gender clinic that has been operating at St Louis Children's Hospital in partnership with Washington University. It has gotten the attention of our Attorney General and even national news outlets. I suspect the response to Tuesday's committee hearing will be larger than anything we've seen with the trans hearings thus far. Please pray for calm, safety and for God's will to be done. Pray for Senators Moon, Carter & Hoskins...for
their safety and their peace of mind as well as success.
2. Contact committee members. Request a YES vote.
Senator Justin Brown, Chair. 573.751.5713
Senator Mike Moon. 573.751.1480
Senator Elaine Gannon. 573.751.4008
Senator Nick Schroer. 573.751.1282
Senator Andrew Koenig. 573.751.5568
Senator Tracy McCreery. 573.751.9762
Senator Greg Razer. 573.751.6607
Email Addresses (Copy & paste):
justin.brown@senate.mo.gov, elaine.gannon@senate.mo.gov, mike.moon@senate.mo.gov, nick.schroer@senate.mo.gov, andrew.koenig@senate.mo.gov, tracey.mccreery@senate.mo.gov, greg.razer@senate.mo.gov
amending the constitution needs to be more fair to rural missourians
Why?
Well…. Did YOU want the marijuana amendment to pass?
Chances are, if you live in any county outside of a metropolitan area, you did not. The map below, which is provided by Missouri First, shows exactly which Missouri counties were in favor of Amendment 3 which was on our November 2022 ballot. As you can see, only 16 voting districts approved.
So often, this is the case. The general population of the cities is enough to out vote the rural areas. You likely already know the big problem with this.
The cities are vastly different than the majority of Missouri. Those of us who live in the beautiful Missouri farmland or near our gorgeous cold, spring-fed rivers in the southern Missouri hills do NOT want to share the way of life of our city dwelling friends. Generally speeking, our needs are different and our values are different.
When it comes to changing our Missouri Constitution, the needs and voices of rural Missourians aren't being taken into account. The Concurrent Majority Ratification legislation will help us fix that.
vocabulary to understand
Initiative Petition (IP)
This is the process by which citizens are able to add measures onto our ballots on election day. The process is overseen by the Secretary of State and involves collecting hundreds of thousands of signatures to request the additional measure to the ballot. It’s a very expensive process and it’s not easy to accomplish. And that’s a good thing. We don’t need it to be easy BUT we also don’t want to completely remove the people's ability to make a change when necessary.
IP Reform
If you hear of IP Reform, it is referring to an effort to change the process of citizens being able to add an amendment to the ballot. Those who feel the Constitution is irrelevant these days would love for it to be easier. People who don’t want any changes to the Constitution would prefer it be much harder or near impossible for the people to be able to accomplish the passage of a constitutional amendment.
Citizens do need a way to change things if their elected officials aren’t representing the constituents well. It doesn’t need to be impossible but it does need to be very challenging and that is the case as it stands. If I were to update the IP process, I’d choose to make it even a little more difficult to do but I don’t believe this is the answer to our concerns.
There are a lot of initiative petitions that are filed each year and only a very few make it to the ballot. In 2022, there were 89 IP filings and only 50 were approved for circulation to collect signatures. Of those, only 1 actually made it onto the 2022 ballot and that was the the marijuana amendment. The other ballot measures arrived on the ballot via joint resolutions passed by legislature.
Concurrent Majority Ratification (CMR)
According to Webster, the definition of concurrent majority is, “a political majority created out of divergent interest groups and temporarily united by general agreement especially in protecting a minority right”
In this case, the divergent interest groups are the rural areas. Rural Missourians have a different interest than residents of our biggest cities. We need to protect rural Missourians' interests.
Specifically, we will be looking at the Missouri House Districts to do that because they are the smallest political subdivisions of Missouri voters.
Ratification is the official consent to the changing of the constitution.
Concurrent Majority Ratification means that it would take the popular vote AND the majority of House districts approval in order to officially change the Missouri Constitution.
Popular Vote
The results of individual votes cast.
the american standard
The standard for creating public policy in America IS by way of concurrent majority.
- States vote to ratify amendments to the US Constitution. We don't change it by a national popular vote.
- The Electoral College. We don't elect the President by a national popular vote.
- We have 2 US Senators per state, regardless of population size.
- Members of the House of Representatives (both MO & US) represent geographic districts
- Our legislature consists of 2 chambers - House & Senate. Passing legislation requires a concurrent majority
In truth, amending the Missouri Constitution by way of a statewide popular vote is the exception not the rule. It causes a problem in that the cities of Missouri are able to control any ballot initiative and our rural citizens are disenfranchised. It needs to change.
current legislation to support
Each of these are Joint Resolutions. If passed by the legislature, they will not be added to statute. They become ballot measures brought before the people for a vote.
SJR 28 by Senator Jill Carter
SJR 33 by Senator Mike Moon
HJR 30 by Representative Ed Lewis
The key point in each of these three pieces of legislation is that in order to amend the Missouri Constitution, it would require more than 50% of the popular vote AND more than 50% of the vote in each Missouri House District.
If this had been the statute prior to our November 2022 election, the marijuana amendment would NOT have passed because although the popular vote was more than 50%, there were not nearly enough Missouri House districts that approved.
take action
- Call and email your Representative &. Senator regarding this issue. Keep it respectful, short & sweet. Tell them you support the CONCURRENT MAJORITY RATIFICATION language in SJR 28, SJR 33 and HJR 30 and you are requesting they support these at any opportunity available to them.
- Watch for committee hearings and participate by attending or submitting testimony as often as possible. I'll keep you updated as to when & where those are happening. The first House hearing is Tuesday, 1/24 at Noon in House Hearing Room 6.
- Call and email committee members individually to express your support prior to any hearings.
- Share this information with your friends and family. If this legislation passes, it will then be added to the ballot and we need educated voters.
tools to help you take action
Don't know your legislators or their contact info? Legislator Lookup Tool
Legislator email addresses follow the following templates.
Senators - firstname.lastname@senate.mo.gov
Representatives - firstname.lastname@house.mo.gov
Committee members
Peggy McGaugh, Chair (R) 573.751.2917
Dan Stacy, Vice Chair (R) 573.751.8636
Joe Adams, Ranking Minority Leader (D). 573.751.4265
Brad Banderman (R). 573.751.0549
Donna Baringer (D). 573.751.4220
Tricia Byrnes (R). 573.751.1460
Jeff Coleman (R). 573.751.1487
Bill Falkner (R). 573.751.9755
Roger Reedy (R). 573.751.3971
Alex Riley (R) 573.751.2210
Adam Schwadron (R). 573.751.2949
David Tyson Smith (D). 573.751.9753
Justin Sparks (R). 573.751.0562
Cheri Toalson Reisch (R). 573.751.1169
Ken Waller (R) 573.751.4451
Kevin Windham (D). 573.751.4726
Eric Woods (D). 573.751.2199
Elaine Gannon, Chair (R). 573.751.4008
Sandy Crawford, Vice Chair (R). 573.751.8793
Jill Carter (R). 573.751.2173
Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R). 573.751.1492
Andrew Koenig (R). 573.751.5568
John Rizzo (D). 573.751.3074
Barbara Washington (D). 573.751.3158
upcoming hearings
House Committee Hearing
Tuesday, January 24, 2023 @ 12:00 Noon in House Hearing Room 6
Submit Written Testimony - Support HJR 30. Be sure to check your email and click to verify your submission.
