Missouri's legislature passed not one but two measures on Friday taking aim at voting rights. In addition to the gerrymandered congressional map, Republicans also pushed through a plan to heavily restrict citizen-led constitutional amendments.
Initiative petitions have been used by voters to make changes that the GOP-dominated state legislature won't — including the recent legalization of abortion rights, sports betting and recreational marijuana. This new proposal would raise the bar for voter-led amendments to get approved statewide, while keeping it easier for amendments written by legislators to pass.
KCUR's Brian Ellison spoke to Jonathan Shorman, a political reporter with Stateline, about what would happen and why voters still get the final say.
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