Amendment 1 would add term limits to more statewide offices

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Amendment 1 hit the November ballot without the fanfare and controversy surrounding Amendment 3, which would change the state's redistricting process.

Amendment 1 would add term limits to the offices of lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor and attorney general. Currently, the only statewide offices with term limits are governor and treasurer.

State Rep. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, sponsored the amendment. Luetkemeyer has said Amendment 1 would create consistency among all statewide and legislative offices.

However, opponents argue term limits could actually hurt in those offices because experienced officeholders who might otherwise be reelected will have to step down. Term limit opponents argue they eliminate expertise of long-time officeholders and give lobbyists more influence.

The ballot language

Official ballot title:

Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to extend the two term restriction that currently applies to the Governor and Treasurer to the Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor and the Attorney General?

State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings from this proposal.

Fair ballot language: 

A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to impose a two term restriction on all statewide elected officials, which currently only applies to the Governor and Treasurer.

A “no” vote will leave the terms that statewide elected officials may serve unchanged.

If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.