The Kansas City Star: Missouri GOP Wants to Block More Ballot Measures

When the Missouri House returned to session nearly two weeks ago, they filed 14 different bills to oppose majority rule in instituting ballot measures across the state. Rather than paying attention to voters, The Kansas City Star says Missouri’s electeds would rather prioritize their own agendas:

In the wake of Missouri voters approving several liberal-leaning ballot measures, Republicans in the GOP-controlled Missouri General Assembly are now proposing a raft of legislation that would make it more difficult for voters to amend the state constitution…

“They don’t want to pay attention to what their constituents really want,” said Jahnavi Delmonico, a Springfield resident who has gathered signatures on several initiative petitions. “When you see an increase in initiative petitions, that indicates to me that what the people care about, what the people really want, is not being addressed by the legislature.”

Kacen Byless, The Kansas City Star, January 15, 2023

The legislature is attempting to take power away from the people, concentrating it in Jefferson City. John Von Glahn, policy director for Missouri Jobs with Justice, said it best: “voters are smart and should be trusted.”

Read the full story by Kacen Byless here.

Posted January 18, 2023