ballot initiatives

Lawsuit Filed Against Missouri Over Language Used In Teacher Tenure Ballot Initiative

Marshall Griffin — Fri, 03 May 2013 22:57:09 +0000

A group of educators is suing the state of Missouri over a proposed constitutional amendment requiring tenure for public school teachers be based on performance, not seniority.

In a press release issued Friday, the four plaintiffs in the suit say school districts would be allowed to fire or cut the pay of teachers and administrators without cause or due process, and that the ballot language should be rewritten to reflect that. They also say the initiative will be more expensive than its backers

Mo. House Seeks To Increase Transparency Of Initiative Petitions

The Associated Press — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:55:50 +0000

The Missouri House has approved legislation aimed at increasing the transparency of initiative petitions that bypass the Legislature to put proposed laws or constitutional amendments on statewide ballots.

Sponsors of the petitions must gather signatures from registered voters for their proposal to qualify for the ballot.

Kander To Post Initiative Petitions To Mo. Sec. Of State Website BEFORE Writing Ballot Language

Marshall Griffin — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:46:11 +0000

Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander (D) has made changes to the initiative petition process.

Effective immediately, the Secretary of State’s office will begin posting initiative petitions to its website before the summary language is written. Kander has also authorized 5-day comment periods that will begin the same day the initiative petitions are posted.

“When I traveled around the state, a lot of people had concerns about whether or not it was done in secret, behind closed doors," Kander said. "So I decided to make it

Schoeller conducting 'Farm Values Tour' across rural Mo.

Marshall Griffin — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 23:17:54 +0000

Agricultural interests are being highlighted in the Missouri Secretary of State’s race this week.

Republican nominee Shane Schoeller is conducting a “Farm Values Tour” across the state, in which he’s reviving memories of the recent battle over dog breeding regulations. He says his Democratic opponent, Jason Kander, would follow in Robin Carnahan’s footsteps in writing ballot summaries that could greatly harm farmers who also breed dogs.

Judge upholds ballot summary for Mo. court measure

Marshall Griffin — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 20:36:58 +0000

A Cole County judge has upheld a ballot summary prepared by Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) for a proposed constitutional amendment that would expand the governor’s role in appointing State Supreme Court judges.

The ballot language for Amendment 3 asks:

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to change the current nonpartisan selection of supreme court and court of appeals judges to a process that gives the governor increased authority to: