“This August, Missouri voters will face two constitutional amendments that, taken together, represent the most dangerous transfer of power from citizens to politicians in our state’s history.”
Missouri House Representative Keri Ingle
August sees the most dangerous ballot in Missouri history. Don’t be fooled, The Kansas City Star
On the August 4 ballot, Missouri voters face four proposed amendments, but two deceptive constitutional amendments are designed to strip away our rights and fundamentally rig our tax system. Proponents are hiding behind misleading language, but the reality is clear; these measures are a power grab to silence our voices and a massive tax shift that penalizes working families.
The Boone County Democrats strongly urge a NO vote on both measures.
Amendment 4: A Direct Threat to Citizen-Led Democracy
What it does: Breaks our state’s simple majority system by requiring citizen-initiated constitutional amendments to win a majority in every single one of Missouri’s eight congressional districts to pass.
- Silences the Majority: For over a century, Missourians have used the initiative petition to bypass Jefferson City gridlock. Amendment 4 means a single congressional district could veto a measure supported by the vast majority of the state.
- A Strategic Power Grab: Rallied by politicians eager to kill future citizen-led initiatives, this amendment rigs the system so that where you live matters more than your vote.
Vote NO on Amendment 4 to protect our right to direct democracy and keep Missouri a majority-rules state.
Amendment 5: The “Everything Tax” That Hurts Working Families
What it does: Mandates the elimination of the state individual income tax, which funds 64% of our general revenue, and authorizes lawmakers to expand sales taxes to attempt to replace it.
- An $8.5 Billion Budget Hole: Eliminating the income tax pulls billions away from public schools, roads, healthcare, and senior services.
- A Tax Shift to Everyday Essentials: To close the deficit, politicians will be forced to levy an “Everything Tax.” This will expand sales taxes to daily necessities like doctor visits, medications, home and car repairs, haircuts, and utilities. The measure does not include any exemptions
- Tax Cuts for Billionaires, Hikes for You: Sales taxes hit middle-class families, rural Missourians, and seniors on fixed incomes the hardest because they spend more of their income on basic needs. Wealthy corporations walk away with massive cuts while everyday citizens pay the bill.
Vote NO on Amendment 5 to stop this dangerous tax scam and protect the financial well-being of everyday Missouri families.
The Bottom Line
Amendments 4 and 5 represent a coordinated effort to strip power from the people and hand it to special interests. On August 4, vote YES to protect our state parks on Amendment 1, but stand firm against Jefferson City overreach: Vote NO on Amendment 4 and Vote NO on Amendment 5.