Missouri

Lawsuit aims to block Missouri income tax amendment from ballot

Published

2 months ago

May 15, 2026

Lawsuit aims to block Missouri income tax amendment from ballot

Jason Hancock
| Missouri Independent

A lawsuit filed Wednesday, May 13 seeks to knock a proposed constitutional amendment off Missouri’s 2026 ballot that would give lawmakers new power to expand sales taxes to eliminate the income tax, arguing legislators bundled too many subjects into one proposal and wrote misleading ballot language.

The lawsuit, filed in Cole County Circuit Court by attorney Chuck Hatfield on behalf of a Missouri resident, challenges a proposed ballot question that would ask voters to amend the Missouri Constitution to begin phasing out the state individual income tax.

The measure, approved by the legislature last month, is expected to appear on the November ballot unless Gov. Mike Kehoe moves it to another election. Kehoe has made eliminating the income tax one of his top priorities, arguing it would make Missouri more competitive with states that do not tax individual income.

But the lawsuit argues the proposal is constitutionally defective and should be blocked from any ballot. In the alternative, it asks the court to rewrite the summary statement voters would see.

The lawsuits central legal argument is that the proposal violates constitutional limits on ballot measures by including more than one subject and effectively amending multiple articles of the Missouri Constitution.

“This is precisely the logrolling harm the multi-article rule was designed to prevent,” the lawsuit argues, contending voters who support eliminating the income tax could be forced to also accept provisions they oppose, such as expanding the sales tax or changing how road funds and local taxes are handled.

The lawsuit also argues the proposal would improperly expand the constitutional role of the state auditor by requiring the office to calculate reduced tax rates triggered by the amendment. The petition contends that duty is not related to auditing the receipt or expenditure of public funds, which the Missouri Constitution says is the limit of the auditor’s authority.

Instead, the lawsuit argues, the amendment would give the auditor a new rate-setting or revenue-modeling role, including authority to calculate changes affecting tax rates set elsewhere in the constitution.

A spokesperson for Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who was among the named respondents in the lawsuit, did not respond to a request for comment.

If passed, the proposal would direct lawmakers to set a revenue baseline and triggers for phased-in reductions in the top tax rate. It also allows five years for the legislature to write a new sales tax law, which must be directly tied to cuts in the top income tax rate in a manner supporters hope will not increase or decrease revenue.

Currently Missouri has an income tax with a top rate of 4.7% for taxable incomes greater than about $9,200 a year. The sales tax is 3% for general revenue, but earmarked state taxes and local options stack on top of that, creating a rate that is 7% to 8% in most locations and can be as much as 12% in some special districts.

The sales tax applies to physical goods and excludes services. The Missouri Constitution prohibits lawmakers from applying the sales tax to real estate transfers and any goods or services not currently taxed, but those provisions would not apply to any sales tax plan passed as a result of the constitutional amendment.

Missouri gets about 65% of its state revenue from income tax, about 22% from sales tax and the rest from other sources including a corporate income tax. To replace the revenue from the income tax without expanding coverage of the sales tax would increase the tax rate by as much as 8.5%.

State law exempts residential utility costs, prescription drugs and groceries from all or a portion of the current sales tax. There are also dozens of other sales tax exemptions, mainly tied to business operations as an economic development tool.

The lawsuit also challenges the ballot summary approved by lawmakers.

The summary asks voters whether the Missouri Constitution should be amended to “phase-out the individual income tax based on revenue growth,” “reduce personal property and other local taxes when local revenues increase,” “modify the sales and use tax to eliminate income tax and reduce local taxes” and “protect local funding for public schools and other purposes.”

The lawsuit argues that language is unfair and insufficient because it does not tell voters that the amendment would allow lawmakers to tax services now protected from sales taxes, would temporarily exempt certain tax increases from constitutional limits on new annual revenue and would permanently bar lawmakers from reimposing an individual income tax once it is eliminated.

The lawsuit takes particular aim at the word “modify,” arguing it fails to convey the breadth of the sales-tax authority voters would be granting lawmakers.

“A voter reading ‘modify the sales and use tax’ would not be apprised that the resolution authorizes the state to begin taxing services such as haircuts, legal fees, home repairs, medical services, accounting, and any other service currently exempt from sales tax,” the lawsuit states.

It also argues the phrase “protect local funding for public schools and other purposes” is argumentative because the word “protect” encourages support for the measure rather than neutrally describing what it does.

“If the people are allowed to have a fair vote, they’ll vote this amendment down,” Hatfield said in an interview May 13. “But the ballot summary the legislature wants to show them is just not fair or accurate.”

The governor called on lawmakers in January to place an income-tax phaseout on the ballot, saying voter approval would allow lawmakers to act next session.

Supporters of the amendment have argued that eliminating the income tax would help Missouri attract residents, jobs and investment. During debate over the proposal, Republicans framed it as a long-term economic growth strategy and a way to let Missourians keep more of what they earn.

Opponents have argued the plan would shift the tax burden toward sales taxes, raising costs for people who spend a larger share of their income on taxable goods and services. They have also warned that the ballot language does not make clear that voters would be authorizing a broader sales tax in order to replace revenue from the income tax.

The lawsuit asks the court to permanently block Hoskins from placing the measure on any ballot. If the court declines to do that, it asks for a new summary statement that “fairly and accurately conveys the central purpose and probable effects” of the amendment.

This story was first published at missouriindependent.com.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 14, 2026

Published

4 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 14, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from July 14 drawing

02-04-10-48-56, Mega Ball: 22

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 14 drawing

Midday: 4-6-0

Midday Wild: 4

Evening: 7-5-9

Evening Wild: 8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 14 drawing

Midday: 7-6-5-4

Midday Wild: 6

Evening: 8-8-1-5

Evening Wild: 3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 14 drawing

Early Bird: 12

Morning: 15

Matinee: 12

Prime Time: 15

Night Owl: 14

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from July 14 drawing

05-07-12-32-36

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Missouri

Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois and St. Louis: Chasing Midwest food innovations on the Mother Road

Published

16 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Press Room

Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois and St. Louis: Chasing Midwest food innovations on the Mother Road

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WLS) — ABC7 Chicago’s “Pier to Pier” journey on Route 66 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road, and every great celebration deserves great food.

Ryan Chiaverini’s 2026 Hyundai Palisade took him to two legendary locations that changed America’s culinary history.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

If you’ve ever had a corn dog, you can likely thank Cozy Dog Drive In from Illinois’ capital city, Springfield. From his perch on Route 66, third-generation owner Josh Waldmire explained what inspired their famous “hot dog on a stick.”

“My grandfather, when he got out of the military in 1945, started selling Cozy Dogs. And that’s what made corn dogs famous in the Midwest here,” Waldmire said. “When he was in the service, he saw a corn dog being baked when he was in Oklahoma and thought, there’s got to be a quicker way to do that.”

Waldmire’s family name is well-known on the Mother Road. His uncle, Bob Waldmire, was a prominent artist who promoted Route 66, and his murals can still be seen in places like Pontiac.

“He went up and down the route just helping popularize a lot of the stops and making them more famous and basically helped give life back into the road,” Waldmire said.

Craving dessert, Chiaverini navigated to the Show-Me State’s Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. Founded by tennis pro Ted Drewes Sr., his son opened a Route 66 location in St Louis that draws hundreds in the summertime.

“Ted Jr. was the one that really took the reins and made it into what it is today,” said manager Bryan Dillon, the great grandson of the founder. “Ted Jr. wanted to have a place that was right along this main thoroughfare.”

Ted Drewes’ most popular item is served to customers upside down: its thick and creamy concretes. Launched in 1959, Dillon said it helped inspire a frozen creation that diners can find all over the country.

“There’s a guy in St. Louis that started Dairy Queen that got the idea from us, and they started the Blizzard,” Dillon said.

Cozy Dogs and custard in-hand, more food and history beckon on the journey west toward Santa Monica Pier. For now, this should tide over Chiaverini as he goes farther into Missouri.

“Pier To Pier: Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66” is sponsored by Hyundai.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 13, 2026

Published

1 day ago

July 14, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 13, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 13 drawing

05-25-36-40-48, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 13 drawing

Midday: 4-1-4

Midday Wild: 8

Evening: 7-2-7

Evening Wild: 0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 13 drawing

Midday: 7-3-3-5

Midday Wild: 3

Evening: 2-4-9-3

Evening Wild: 6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from July 13 drawing

Early Bird: 12

Morning: 03

Matinee: 04

Prime Time: 03

Night Owl: 10

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from July 13 drawing

07-09-26-28-35

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from July 13 drawing

01-17-31-39-43, Powerball: 22

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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