Ballot Issue

Members of the Missouri House and Senate have adjourned for spring break, marking the halfway point of the legislative session. So far, the GOP-controlled chambers have passed bills to raise state employee pay, restrict how schools can teach about race, and limit voter-led ballot initiatives.

Backed by the group Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the measures would amend the Missouri Constitution to declare that the “government shall not infringe upon a person’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom.” That would include childbirth, postpartum care, birth control, abortion services, and miscarriage care.

Opponents to the measure say it's a rash response to recent ballot initiatives where voters approved policies Republicans have blocked in the legislature — including Medicaid coverage for low-income adults and marijuana legalization.

The Missouri House passed a GOP-backed bill that would increase the threshold needed for voter approval of a proposed constitutional amendment. But the first language that Missourians actually asks whether the constitution should be amended to “allow only citizens" to vote — something that's already clear under state law.

Over the years, Missouri voters have passed several issues through the initiative petition process, including medical and recreational marijuana, Medicaid expansion and a minimum wage hike. A GOP-proposed bill would raise the percentage of votes needed to pass a proposed change to the Missouri Constitution from a simple majority to 60%.

El jueves el Consejo de Kansas City aprobó tres medidas sobre impuestos para la votación de abril. Los funcionarios estiman que los nuevos impuestos generarían millones en ingresos para la ciudad.

The Kansas City Council approved three tax questions for the April ballot on Thursday. Officials estimate that the new taxes would generate millions in revenue for the city.

Right-leaning states like Missouri have moved to make ballot measures tougher to pass after the success of voter initiatives on abortion rights, marijuana and Medicaid expansion.

Since the end of the 2022 election cycle, there’s been increased talk from proponents and opponents of abortion rights about putting a constitutional amendment about the issue on the 2024 ballot. But a proposal from Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft would raise the bar for passing those amendments to 60%.

Four political scientists from Kansas and Missouri broke down the results in several key races and provided analysis on the biggest stories of Election Day 2022.

Kansans approved an amendment that allows county sheriffs to be elected and recalled, while an amendment to allow a legislative majority to revoke executive orders is narrowly failing with 99% of precincts reporting.

The newly-rearranged Kansas 3rd congressional district is seeing incumbent Democrat Sharice Davids face off against Republican Amanda Adkins, with abortion and inflation stealing the spotlight. Plus: Missourians will decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana this election, but Amendment 3 isn't that straight forward.