Rallies across Mid-Missouri on Saturday against Amendments 4 and 5

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Some left-leaning political organizations are getting together on Saturday for a "Get Out The Vote" rally advocating that voters turn down August ballot Amendments 4 and 5.

If passed, Amendment 4 would require a majority of voters in all eight of Missouri's congressional districts to approve the initiative petition on the ballot. People in opposition argue that it is too strong to pass an initiative petition because only one district needs to vote it down.

"The public in Missouri needs to read that amendment so they understand that 5%--that's how they've written it--5%. Any district can go against a majority vote," Abortion Action Missouri volunteer Peggy Neale-Lewis said. "That's ridiculous. I mean, there is no logic, and it's written that way."

Amendment 5 is a proposal to phase out the state income tax. Before lawmakers can adjust any taxes, voters need to approve the measure. Some people, including some Republicans, are hesitant to give immediate support because Amendment 5 asks voters to trust lawmakers in the 2027 legislative session to create a plan to phase out the income tax.

Laborers' International Union of North America Local 955 deputy business manager Andrew Hutchinson said rejecting Amendment 5 at the ballot box protects Missouri consumers from the "everything tax."

"If Amendment 5 passes, this would allow them [lawmakers] to not only raise sales taxes but apply it to services that have never been taxed before. Everything from haircuts to labor charges at the auto shop to healthcare to prescription medicine," Hutchinson said.

He also notes that both Republicans and Democrats are against the measure.

"Partisanship doesn't play that big of a role," Hutchinson said. "We have a lot more Republican, conservative-leaning members [of LiUNA] in Kirksville, and I think they're fully clear that passing Amendment 5 would do harm to the state."

In Columbia, groups including Abortion Action Missouri, Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action and other grassroots organizations will gather at noon at the Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 2615 Shepard Blvd.

Another rally called “Good Trouble Lives On” in Jefferson City started at 10 a.m. at the Capitol and will be followed by a march downtown.