RELEASE: Senate extremists celebrate Presidents Day by trying again to end majority rule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, February 19, 2024
Contact: liz@progressmo.org

“There absolutely is ballot candy” to deceive voters about the true goals of the measure, admitted Senate sponsor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Despite overwhelming testimony against changing how Missourians can bring issues important to them to the ballot, the Missouri Senate today continued discussions about undermining the initiative petition process.

“Ending majority rule would be a dramatic step backwards for Missouri,” said Marilyn McLeod, President of the League of Women Voters of Missouri. “If passed, it would shred our constitution, ending 100 years of majority rule in Missouri, and taking away your right to decide what happens here. We need to protect our freedom to determine our future in Missouri, not permanently change our constitution to give up our rights. Simple majority rule is common sense and already the law of the land in Missouri.”

If passed, SJR74 would end majority rule in Missouri, potentially requiring more than 70% of a statewide vote for any constitutional amendment to pass. Just last week, sponsoring Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman admitted her proposal to end majority rule on constitutional amendments is loaded with “ballot candy,” politician-speak for deception.

“There absolutely is ballot candy,” Coleman said of her proposal to end majority rule on constitutional amendments in Missouri.

Special interests and lobbyists are pushing this constitutional amendment because they can’t control citizens the way they control corrupt politicians. If they destroy our constitution to get rid of ballot initiatives as we know them in Missouri, it will mean more power for special interests and less power for voters to decide on the issues that matter the most. That’s why politicians are trying to add illegal “ballot candy” to mislead voters about what this amendment would do: shred the constitution to end majority rule in Missouri.

“While many Americans celebrated Presidents Day by honoring our presidents and commitment to democracy, these extreme Jefferson City politicians decided to attack majority rule and our very system of government,” said Liz McCune, Executive Director of Progress Missouri. “This proposal from politicians is so brazenly contradictory to long-held Missouri values, like majority rule, that they know they must trick voters to get it done.”

During the past several weeks, a bipartisan coalition of thousands of Missourians have voiced their opposition to attacks on the initiative petition process, many pointing out that the process already in place gives Missourians the power to make decisions about policies that impact them and their families.

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