Supporters of Amendment 4 and 5 voice potential benefits for taxpayers, voters
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missourians will cast their vote on Amendments 4 and 5 on Tuesday.
Amendment 5 would move to eliminate the state's income tax by increasing sales and use taxes over time. Amendment 4 would change the state's initiative petition process by requiring ballot issues to win a majority in all eight congressional districts rather than a statewide simple majority.
Gov. Mike Kehoe said Tuesday after casting his ballot that if Amendment 5 is passed, he would not call a special session to start the "redesign" of Missouri's tax structure.
"The legislature actually has five years to come up with a plan," Kehoe said.
As lawmakers would eliminate the state's income tax, they would increase the state's sales and use tax rates. Local governments would have to simultaneously change their sales and use taxes.
"No. 1, it's easy to say "no" to anything," Kehoe said. "No. 2, whoever is putting a lot of money into that campaign obviously has some tax benefits and things that they like right now. Not saying that's good or bad, but that's usually how that works."
Supporters of the amendment claim it would bring more businesses and jobs to the state while also keeping the younger population around long-term.
"Our economy has been stagnant for several decades now. Growth is very slow, we're losing population," said Camellia Peterson, the Legislative Director for Americans for Prosperity in Missouri. "The average Missouri will have an extra $2,700; $2,800 in their pocket."
Supporters of Amendment 4 allege it would "protect election integrity" and promote transparency. Campaign Manager for Protect Election Integrity Ray Bozarth said it represents "good government."
"Oftentimes the full text of the initiative petition isn't available to voters and there's also kind of a lack of public input," Bozarth said.
Bozarth said if the amendment passes, it would ensure every district in the state is heard, instead of lawmakers focusing on the larger districts to reach the majority of the populace.
"The the reason for increasing the buy-in from a simple majority to majorities in every congressional district is just the idea that if you're gonna amend the Constitution, we're not talking about statutes, amending a state constitution you have to get buy-in from every single corner of the state, you can't ignore one area of voters," Bozarth said.
Bozarth said the amendment will especially add guardrails into place when lawmakers try and change the state constitution.
"It shouldn't be easy to amend a state constitution," Bozarth said. "Right now, Missouri state constitution has 126 amendments and is over 200 pages long. Compare that with the US Constitution, which only has 27 amendments."
Polls close at 7 p.m.
