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Solidarity at the Ballot Box Aug 4th! What Voting NO Means on Amendments 4 & 5

George Ferguson
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What Amendment 4 Does

Currently, if a majority of Missouri voters support a ballot measure it passes. Amendment 4 would change the rules so that citizen-initiated constitutional amendments must win a majority in every single one of Missouri’s 8 congressional districts. Meanwhile, politicians in Jefferson City would still only need a standard 50% majority to pass their own measures.

  • It Silences Working Families: Under Amendment 4, if 70% of Missourians vote "Yes" on a measure, a small minority in just one congressional district could veto the will of the entire state.
  • It Rigs the Process: When politicians fail to act on worker protections, minimum wage increases, or labor standards, citizen initiatives give working people a direct voice. Raising the bar exclusively for citizen-led initiatives takes away our most effective tool to override anti-worker legislation.

  • One Person, One Vote: Democracy depends on majority rule. Amendment 4 creates an unequal system. 
     

What Amendment 5 Does

Amendment 5 mandates the gradual elimination of Missouri’s personal income tax. To make up for billions in lost state revenue, it opens the door for significant increases and expansions to local and state sales taxes on everyday goods and services.

  • Paying Higher Taxes for Working People: Income taxes are based on the ability to pay, while sales taxes hit working-class families the hardest. If income taxes disappear, sales taxes on groceries, gas, clothing, and household services will spike, meaning union families will end up paying more out-of-pocket every year while corporations and high earners get massive tax cuts.
  • Threatens Public Sector Jobs and Services: Income taxes generate roughly 64% of Missouri's general revenue budget. Stripping this funding endangers public education, infrastructure maintenance, public safety, and thousands of public-sector union jobs across the state.

  • Unstable State Funding: Relying heavily on sales taxes leaves state revenue vulnerable during economic downturns, making cuts to essential services even more likely when working families need support most.
     
     


    Full list from Secretary of State Website 
    Official Ballot Title
    Amendment 1

  • [full text]
  • [Proposed by Article IV, Section 47(c), Missouri Constitution (SJR 1, 2005)]
  • [View Certificate of Official Ballot Title] 
  • Official Ballot Title:

  • Shall Missouri continue for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites, and resubmit this tax to the voters for approval in 10 years?

    The measure allows continued collection of the existing sales and use tax, which generates revenue of approximately $140 million annually.

  •  Fair Ballot Language: 

  • A “yes” vote will continue for 10 years the one-tenth of one percent sales/use tax that is used for soil and water conservation and for state parks and historic sites. This will be resubmitted to the voters for approval in 10 years.

    A “no” vote will not continue this sales/use tax.

    If passed, this measure will not increase or decrease taxes.

  • Official Ballot Title
    Amendment 2
  • [full text]
  • [Proposed by 103rd General Assembly (First Regular Session) HCS HJR 23 & 3]
  • [View Certificate of Official Ballot Title] 
  • Official Ballot Title:

  • Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

    • require all charter counties, including Jackson County, to provide for the election of a county assessor; and
    • require assessors in all charter counties to comply with any training requirements established by general law?

    State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

  •  Fair Ballot Language: 

  • A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to require that all charter counties, including Jackson County, elect a county assessor and that such assessors comply with training requirements established by state law.

    A “no” vote will not change the current constitutional provisions, which exempt Jackson County from the requirement to elect its assessor and do not require charter county assessors to follow training requirements under general law.

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

  • Official Ballot Title
    Amendment 4
  • [full text]
  • [Proposed by 103rd General Assembly (Second Extraordinary Session) HCS HJR 3]
  • [View Certificate of Official Ballot Title] 
  • Official Ballot Title:

  • Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

    • Modify current requirements that a statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution;
    • Require a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution; and
    • Make available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot?

    The Department of Corrections estimates increased annual costs of up to $21,817. The Office of State Public Defender estimates an unknown fiscal impact. Other state governmental entities estimate no costs or savings. Local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.

  •  Fair Ballot Language: 

  • A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to:

    • modify current requirements of Article III and Article XII that a simple statewide majority of voters may approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution;
    • require a majority of voters in each congressional district to approve initiative petitions to amend the constitution; and
    • make available to each voter the full text of initiative petitions with their ballot.

    A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to require majority approval in each congressional district for initiative petitions to amend the constitution or make available the full text of initiative petitions with the ballot.

    If passed, this measure will not increase or decrease taxes.

  • Official Ballot Title
    Amendment 5
  • [full text]
  • [Proposed by 103rd General Assembly (Second Regular Session) SS SCS HCS HJR 173 & 174]
  • [View Certificate of Official Ballot Title] 
  • Official Ballot Title:

  • Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

    • Require legislative phase-out of the individual state income tax based on revenue growth, and authorize the expansion of sales and use taxes;
    • Curtail constitutional limits on taxing goods and services; and
    • Require local tax rate cuts without reducing school funding if local sales tax revenue increases?

    The proposal has no direct impact on state or local tax revenue. If passed, implementing legislation will have an unknown impact to state and local tax revenue. If implemented, state government entities expect a reduction of $57,000 annually in income tax check-off donations and implementation costs of at least $100,000.

  •  Fair Ballot Language: 

  • A “yes” vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to require legislative phase-out and elimination of the individual state income tax based on revenue growth, and authorize the expansion of sales and use taxes; curtail constitutional limits on taxing goods and services; and require local tax rate cuts without reducing school funding if local sales tax revenue increases.

    A “no” vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to require legislative phase-out and elimination of the individual state income tax based on revenue growth; and will not authorize the expansion of sales and use taxes.

    At this time, the impact on taxes is unknown.