Amendments 4, 5 toppled at box office

Amendments 4 and 5, which were closely watched at the ballot box, both were voted down on Tuesday.

Roughly 80% of statewide voters rejected Amendment 4, while Amendment 5 was opposed by approximately 83% of voters, according to the unofficial results posted by the Missouri secretary of state's office. 

Amendment 4 would have required voter approval of citizen-initiated constitutional amendments through passage in all eight of the state’s Congressional districts, rather than requiring passage by a majority of voters. The measure additionally had language prohibiting foreign nationals and adversaries from spending to support or oppose ballot measures, and it would have added language regarding penalties for ballot initiative signature petition fraud, according to past reporting.

Amendment 5 would have phased out the state income tax while setting the stage for lawmakers to expand sales and use taxes, Springfield Business Journal previously reported. 

Amendment 5
David Mitchell, professor of economics and director of the Bureau of Economic Research and Center for Economic Education at Missouri State University, told Springfield Business Journal this morning that the ballot language for Amendment 5 was convoluted.

"I think they need more clarity for what they're trying to do," Mitchell said. "It almost sounded like a blank check. I think that scared them."

He said the model – taxing consumption spending rather than income – has been successful in other states.

"Those states are growing by leaps and bounds," Mitchell said.

Gov. Mike Kehoe was one of the top proponents for phasing out the state's income tax.

At the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's State of the State event last week, Kehoe devoted the last several minutes of his talk to discussing the amendment.

“If we want more businesses, more families, more investment and more reasons for our children and grandchildren to stay here, we need to have something like this as that reason,” he said. “Our approach includes safeguards to ensure fiscal responsibility through triggered reductions. This is a revenue-neutral plan. Growth first, then tax cuts because this has to be done deliberately, it has to be done responsibly, and it has to be done so it’s sustainable.”

In a news release issued this morning, Kehoe said "our work is far from over."

"I remain committed to working with the General Assembly in the years ahead on ways to continue cutting taxes, growing our state’s economy and pursuing conservative policies that help Missouri families keep more of what they earn," Kehoe said in the release.

The nonprofit public policy analysis organization Missouri Budget Project said the measure amounted to a "tax cut for the rich."

"Missourians saw through the bait-and-switch,” said Amy Blouin, president and CEO of Missouri Budget Project, in a news release. "Voters clearly chose to protect our schools and services over a tax cut for the rich."

Missouri Realtors “actively” opposed Amendment 5 as well as Amendment 4, according to their website. Late last night, they posted a social media statement reading in part, “Missouri Realtors have delivered a decisive victory on Amendments 4 and 5 with huge support from all corners of the state. Thank you all who put in the time and effort to stand with Missouri homeowners and vote down the amendments this year.”

In terms of campaign contributions, the Realtors gave $2.8 million to Missourians for Fair Taxation to oppose Amendment 5 and donated $4.4 million to Missourians for Fair Governance to defeat Amendment 4, according to election-night reporting by the Missouri Independent. 

Amendment 4
Mitchell, of MSU, weighed in on Amendment 4, as well. He said it's his belief that the constitution is too easy to change.

"It was convoluted, too," he said of the ballot language. "They need to keep things simpler."

Voters Coalition, which describes itself as a statewide grassroots, cross-partisan movement, was in favor of the amendment failing at the ballot box.

“Missouri sent a strong message in today’s election by rejecting Amendment 4," officials said in a news release. "Voters deserve a fair process and the ability to make decisions without politicians standing in the way.”

The Greater Springfield Board of Realtors also opposed Amendment 4. 

Brent Sager of Branson, president-elect of Missouri Realtors, said at a recent news conference held by GSBOR that he sees the imitative petition process as the cornerstone of democracy.

“Amendment 4 wipes that out,” he said. “It says that no longer do the majority of people rule. … When was the last time that you know of that urban areas and rural areas voted the same? It almost never happens.”

Amendments 1 and 2
Amendment 1, a 10-year renewal of a 0.1% sales and use tax for soil and water conservation and to fund state parks and historic sites, and Amendment 2, which would require charter counties to provide for the election of a county assessor, both passed at the box office.

Amendment 1 received roughly 82% in favor at the box office, according to unofficial election results posted by the Missouri secretary of state’s office. Amendment 2 won with nearly 77% approval.

"We are very honored Missouri voters demonstrated their confidence in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to protect their state parks, historic sites, water quality and soil resources,” said Kurt Schaefer, director of the department, in a news release about Amendment 1.

Amendment 2 applies to charter counties that appoint their own assessors. Jackson County, which comprises much of Kansas City, is reportedly the only impacted county. 

Voter metrics
Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller said turnout was slightly above 31%, which is consistent with elections in 2018 and 2020.

He said turnout for August elections that focus solely on primary candidates typically hover at or just above 20% but when there are issues of interest on the ballot, including Amendments 4 and 5 this time, turnout tends to be closer to 30%.

Reporters Mike Cullinan and Claudette Riley contributed.