Love note from Jeff City

Greetings, My Fellow Missourians

Voters to decide on two ballot measures

When Missourians head to the polls on November 3, their votes will determine which candidates are elected into office to lead the state and the nation. Voters in Missouri will also have the opportunity to decide to support or reject two statewide ballot issues.

Amendment 1 – Term limits for statewide elected officials

Amendment 1 was put on the ballot with the passage of SJR 14 by the General Assembly in 2019. The change to the Missouri Constitution would enact term limits for the statewide offices of lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state auditor, and attorney general. Currently, Missouri limits the number of four-year terms for governor and state treasurer to two, but the terms of the other statewide offices are not limited. If voters approve Amendment 1, these other offices would also be limited to two four-year terms. The sponsor of the amendment said, “The voters of Missouri emphatically support term limits. This measure will bring consistency for all state elected officials, and prevent them from becoming career politicians.”

Amendment 3 – Ethics reform and redistricting changes

On November 3, Missourians will also have a chance to vote on Amendment 3, which would make changes to the voter-approved Amendment 1 that was adopted in 2018. Amendment 3 was placed on the ballot by the General Assembly with the approval of SJR 38 in 2020.

In 2018, Amendment 1, otherwise known as Clean Missouri, was approved by voters. Its stated intent was to provide substantive ethics reform for elected officials. Among other things, the change to the Missouri Constitution put in place a $5 limit on gifts from lobbyists, lowered campaign contribution limits, and created a new process for drawing district maps for state House and Senate seats that relies on a state demographer selected by the State Auditor.

In 2020, voters will have the option to support Amendment 3, which has the goal of changing and strengthening some of the provisions that were enacted in 2018 with the passage of the Clean Missouri amendment. Amendment 3 would enact a ban on gifts from lobbyists to legislators and staff. It would also further reduce campaign contribution limits for legislators. Finally, it would change the redistricting process authorized in 2018 back to the previous system utilized by the state for decades that involves governor-appointed bipartisan citizen commissions.

Supporters of Amendment 3 say the changes to the redistricting process are important to ensure communities are kept intact when new districts are drawn. They point to the changes made by Clean Missouri that put “partisan fairness” and “competitiveness” as more important factors than keeping districts “compact” and “contiguous.” They say these changes could lead to gerrymandered districts that break communities apart and place them in districts with distant areas that face different issues. Proponents of Amendment 3 prefer the state’s previous system using bipartisan citizen commissions that prioritize keeping communities intact when drawing new district lines.

The sponsor of Amendment 3 said, “It is my great concern that our communities will find their voices diminished in Jefferson City because of the liberal think-tank ideas contained in the criteria of (Clean Missouri), which places partisan preference above our communities.”

Supporters of Amendment 3 also stress that the governor-appointed bipartisan citizen commissions offer a fairer system for creating maps than utilizing a single, unelected state demographer. They note that the commissions are made up of an equal number of citizens from each party, and if the commissions can’t come to an agreement, the process relies on appellate judges to draw the new districts. They say it is a fair process that keeps communities intact and creates competitive districts.

Finally, supporters of Amendment 3 say that 2018’s Clean Missouri amendment was funded by out-of-state interests who want to rewrite the rules in their favor in order to control Missouri politics. They say Amendment 3 is a way to fight back against a partisan power grab and protect communities and their representation in the State Capitol.

Interim hours: Now that Session is over for 2020, I will be back in District full time. If you need any assistance my Legislative Assistant Amy Helton will be happy to help you Monday-Thursday.

It is my honor to serve the constituents of District 125. If you ever have questions, concerns, or input, please feel free to contact me any time at (573) 751-4065.

YOUR District 125 Capitol office is 413B, and YOU are always welcome!

If you would like to be added to the e-mail list to receive our Capitol Reports, you may e-mail me at warren.love@house.mo.gov or call the Capitol office at (573) 751-4065 and speak with my Legislative Assistant.