Constitution

Senate members of the far-right Missouri Freedom Caucus had vowed to block the governor's appointments until the legislature approved a resolution making it harder for voters to amend the state constitution.

Last week saw significant developments in two deeply divisive areas of Missouri law. What will lawmakers do with legislation limiting transgender rights and health care this year, and will voters enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution?

Members of the Missouri Freedom Caucus blocked action on the governor's appointments, calling for action on legislation that would make it harder for residents to amend Missouri’s constitution. Any ballot issue reform would have to be approved by voters.

Before Missouri voters have the chance to enshrine the right to an abortion, Republican lawmakers might pass legislation aimed at making it harder to amend the state constitution. Another bill would close off public access to legislative records.

Tony Award-nominated actress Jennifer Westfeldt stars in Heidi Schreck's play "What the Constitution Means to Me" at the Kansas City Repertory Theatre.

Missouri and Ohio Republicans have said that raising the constitutional threshold from a simple majority is aimed at scuttling initiatives expanding abortion rights.

Kansas City’s tenant union formed a political organizing group last year. The group has been campaigning hard for six candidates as it tries to shift the balance of power in Kansas City with today's election. Plus: Missouri voters could decide whether the state constitution should be harder to change, but it may face a tough reception at the polls.

Republicans wanted to send a ballot item to Missouri voters that would raise the threshold to amend the state constitution from a simple majority to 57%. GOP lawmakers have admitted the effort is motivated in part to stop the expansion of abortion rights, but not everyone is confident that voters will go along.

In a seemingly unprecedented move, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey demanded that the state auditor include “inaccurate information" in the fiscal summary for a proposed amendment enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution.

Camden County Presiding Commissioner Ike Skelton has called the ATF unconstitutional. The statement comes after his brother was indicted for illegally selling guns to undercover ATF agents.

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.