League of Women Voters of Missouri

1. League of Women Voters of Missouri August 2014 Ballot Issues

2. Agenda • Review Sample Ballot • Review Constitutional Amendments • Review Proposition K • Discussion Sue Brockett, President, LWV Missouri, Local President Jill Young Rickard, LWV Missouri, Local Vice President

3. Proposition 1 – The Missouri Right-to-Farm Amendment • Background - In 2010, Proposition B, limited the number of breeding dogs a business can own • Proposition 1 – In August, decide whether the state constitution should be amended to include "farmers' rights“ • Proponents say that farmers need to be protected • Opponents say amendment is vague and could favor corporate over Missouri family farms The League of Women Voters of Missouri opposes Proposition 1

4. Proposition 5 – Right to Bear Arms Amendment Background • In 1999, rejected Proposition B (to issue concealed weapons permits) • In 2003, law enacted similar to allowing Proposition B • In 2011, legislature passed to lower the concealed gun age from 23 to 21. • In 2014, bill introduced to nullify federal gun control laws, despite court rulings against such attempts. • Proposition 5, Voters must decide whether Missouri would establish an unalienable right of citizens to keep and bear arm

5. Proposition 5 – Right to Bear Arms Amendmentcont. • If passed, • amendment would expand the right to keep and bear arms • to include ammunition and related accessories for such arms • removes the language “the right to keep and bear arms” • does not prevent the legislature from limiting rights of certain felons and individuals mental disorder • Proponents - right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right • Opponents - amendment makes it more difficult to reduce gun violence and enact local state and federal common-sense laws to reduce it

6. Proposition 5 – Right to Bear Arms Amendment The League of Women Voters of Missouri opposes Proposition 5

7. Proposition 7 - Missouri Temporary Sales Tax for Transportation Amendment • Voters must decide if the state Constitution should be amended to increase the sales tax ¾ ¢ for the next ten years • If passed the state sales tax will increase from 4.225 cents to 4.975 cents or 50 cents for each $10.00 purchase. • No tax on groceries, medications, gasoline and other items now exempt from the sales tax. • Proponents - roads and bridges are in poor condition and need repair • Opponents - burden of this regressive sales tax increase heavy on poor, working class families, and seniors The League of Women Voters of Missouri opposes Proposition 7

8. Proposition 8 – Veterans Lottery Ticket Amendment • Voters must decide • whether a "Veterans Lottery Ticket" can be created • funds raised from the sale of those tickets used for projects & services related to veterans • Proponents - lottery would help fund the state's seven veterans home, which have 1,800 on the waiting list • Opponents - concerned new lottery will take away ticket sales from the Education Lottery The League of Women Voters of Missouri takes no position on Proposition 8

9. Proposition 9 – Missouri Electronic Data Protection Amendment • Background - global surveillance programs prompted criticism for violating rights to privacy of citizens • Voters to decide whether Missouri should enact further protections • Proponents - amendment is a logical extension of existing protections from unwarranted searches and seizures • Opponents - amendment might have unintended consequences • might make it more difficult for law enforcement to investigate cyber-crimes The League of Women Voters of Missouri takes no position on Proposition 9

10. Cape Girardeau CountyProposition K Local Issue – Not studied by LWV Missouri

11. Proposition K –Putting Kids First Background • Local organization “Putting Kids First” presented petition for ballot issue • 8% voters in Cape County signed petition (required number, certified) • Petition accepted by Cape Girardeau County Commission (4/24/14) • Organization (Putting Kids First Cape County) • County wide coalition • Wants all kids to have a place to go when they need help

12. Proposition K –Putting Kids First Putting Kids First Cape County (kidsfirstcape.com) • Purpose - To support the mental health and well-being of children and youth in Cape Girardeau County Missouri • Gap between children’s’ needs and funding widened • No transitional living services offered to estimated 131 homeless youth attending Cape Girardeau County schools • Over 500 children and youth went without necessary psychiatric services (2012 survey) • State funds dedicated to certain services (Missouri Statute)

13. Proposition K –Missouri funds dedicated to the following services only (kidsfirstcape.com) : • Respite care • Temporary, emergency shelter • Transitional living programs • Outpatient psychiatric treatment • Individual, group, or family counseling and therapy • Crisis intervention • Outpatient substance abuse treatment • Home & school based family intervention • School-based prevention programs • Services to teenage mothers

14. Proposition K –Putting Kids First kfvs12 Website (kfvs12.com) • State cutting money; local communities to meet the growing demand (referring to organizers position) • Quarter-percent sales tax = $0.01 on every $4 spent in the county would go towards a community children's service fund • Would generate more than $3 million for local children • Proponents - improvements in teen pregnancy and juvenile crime • Opponents - against taxes • No oversight/controls provided in proposition* * From http://rockinconservative.com/2014/06/24/vote-no-on-august-5th-tax-increases/

15. Questions?