Missouri

Missouri Republicans push legislation to curb citizens’ petition power

Published

2 years ago

January 29, 2024

Missouri Republicans push legislation to curb citizens’ petition power

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KFVS) – The crusade by Missouri Republicans to fortify the state’s constitution against citizen-led ballot measures is poised to take a big step.

The Senate Committee on Local Government and Elections is scheduled to hear 12 resolutions Monday afternoon, January 29 each of which is aimed at making it more difficult for Missouri citizens to make changes to the state’s fundamental governing document.

Republican lawmakers thrust the issue to the top of their priority list when a campaign was launched, despite a litany of court challenges, to collect the requisite signatures for an abortion rights question to be placed on November’s ballot.

“At this point where there’s so much at stake, gloves are off, and we’re willing to do whatever it takes to protect life, and to ensure that our constitution is protected,” said state Sen. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, who is sponsoring one of the resolutions and has been openly critical of the initiative petition as an avenue for direct democracy.

In order to obstruct an increasingly likely ballot measure on abortion rights in November, Republicans said they intend to pass their resolution to put their initiative petition question on the August statewide ballot.

The initiative petition process was utilized by Missouri citizens to legalize recreational marijuana, expand medicaid and overturn the state’s “Right to Work” law.

“Politicians are kept under control of the voters by the citizen initiative process,” said Scott Charton, spokesperson for the political action committee Missourians for Fair Governance. “This is over 100 years time, a good process. It works. It doesn’t need fixing. But politicians want to take away the people’s right to set the agenda and to put laws in place. That’s not right. It shouldn’t be weakened.”

Freddie Steinbach was the finance director for former Gov. John D. Ashcroft’s Finance Director and the first mayor of Chesterfield.

“In 1992, my former boss Governor Ashcroft vetoed similar attacks on the citizen initiative process,” Steinbach said in a press release. “The then-Democratic majority was attacking the will of the people, and trying to make the initiative process more difficult, because the Democrats were bitter that conservatives had been using the citizen initiative, including to pass the Hancock Amendment with only 55% of the vote.”

Steinbach now works as outreach director for Conservatives Against Corruption and plans to speak out against the resolutions before the committee Monday.

“In his veto statement, Governor Ashcroft said, ‘the General Assembly should be reluctant…to enact legislation which places any impediments on the initiative power which are inconsistent with the reservation found in the Constitution.’ I ask that this legislature listen to the advice from our former Governor when considering further legislative action.”

Resolutions to be considered Monday:

SJR 48 – Would require constitutional amendments be approved by a simple majority in a majority of the constitutional districts in the state. This would eliminate the power of “one person, one vote,” by weighting any decision for amending the constitution more heavily on less-populated, rural districts.

SJR 49 – Same as SJR 48 and also bans certain topics from being the subject of an an initiative petition, including raising taxes, reducing money for law enforcements or public education. This also includes a “poison pill” amendment, wherein the entire amendment is automatically deemed unconstitutional if any part of a constitutional amendment is found to be so by a court.

SJR 51 – Same as SJR 48 and also bans tax increases on food sales, real estate and property from being the subject of the IP. Also prohibits foreign governments or political parties from sponsoring IPs, and empowers the general assembly to enforce the rules. Critics say this is merely an avenue for the general assembly to kill whatever initiative petition it doesn’t like.

SJR 56 – Tightens the requirements for how narrow the scope of an IP should be.

SJR 59 – Would require constitutional amendments be approved by a simple majority statewide and a simple majority of the votes cast in a majority of the state senate districts. (SJR 48, 49 & 51 aligned with congressional districts).

SJR 61 – Same as SJR 59, except aligning with state representative districts instead of state senate districts.

SJR 73 – Would impose a litany of new requirements and restrictions for voter-submitted ballot measures, including identification requirements for supporting campaigns, passage thresholds tied to campaign contributions, new bureaucratic steps for reporting contributions. The resolution also creates a public complaint structure as an additional obstacle.

SJR 74 – Same as SJR 48.

SJR 77 – Same as SJR 51.

SJR 79 – Same as SJR 49.

SJR 81 – Same as SJR 51, except aligning with state representative districts instead of congressional districts.

SJR 83 – Same as SJR 49, but without the prohibition on IPs related to reducing spending or raising taxes.

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Missouri

Missouri bill that would split Jackson County and Kansas City gets little support from lawmakers

Published

35 minutes ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Missouri bill that would split Jackson County and Kansas City gets little support from lawmakers

A Missouri House committee had its first hearing this week on a proposed constitutional amendment that would split Kansas City and Jackson County upon approval by voters.

The legislation is nicknamed “Jackxit,” a nod to Brexit, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union in 2020.

Republican state Rep. Mike Steinmeyer is sponsoring the bill. He said eastern Jackson County voters feel underrepresented in the county government, and this legislation would give them the power to change that.

At the hearing, committee members listened to Steinmeyer’s presentation of the bill before asking questions and sharing their thoughts.

Democratic state Rep. Bridget Walsh Moore compared what the bill proposes to “The Great Divorce” that saw the legal separation of the city of St. Louis from St. Louis County in 1876.

Several committee members criticized a part of the bill that says if it’s signed into law, the question of whether to split the county in two would appear on the Missouri ballot every 10 years.

Moore called it a “never-ending clause.”

“There’s a provision that says every 10 years this has to go back on the ballot, whether you like it or not,” Moore said. “And we’re going to keep voting on it, until you vote the way we think you should.”

Democratic state Rep. Jeff Hales said the bill’s language suggests the question would reappear on the ballot every 10 years until it’s approved by voters.

“Why does it end when it’s approved if the importance and the value here is giving the voters of Jackson County a right to weigh in on their charter and their government?” Hales said.

Steinmeyer said that clause exists to give Jackson County voters the opportunity to weigh in on their form of government.

“It gives them the right to speak and say we want change, or we want to abolish and start over,” Steinmeyer said. “That’s all we’re asking for.”

Democratic state Rep. Ashley Aune questioned how the ballot question would protect the right of voters. Steinmeyer said it protects their right to vote and be heard, specifically on their governance.

Lobbyist Shannon Cooper testified on behalf of the city of Kansas City, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City. He said during a public comment period that the bill was “the most befuddling piece of legislation” that he’s had to testify for or against.

Cooper brought up the historic recall election of County Executive Frank White Jr. and said the recall showed the system Steinmeyer is trying to fix with this bill can work.

“If the voters are not happy, they can deal with their problems,” Cooper said. “They’ve proven that in the last year.”

No action was taken on the bill, and it is not yet scheduled for a future hearing.

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Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri, City Council voted Thursday to approve the city’s $2.6 billion budget for 2026-27

Published

13 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Kansas City, Missouri, City Council voted Thursday to approve the city’s .6 billion budget for 2026-27

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council voted Thursday to approve a $2.6 billion budget for the city’s fiscal year of 2026-27.

The budget includes $744 million in spending for public safety, including $26.3 million for a new Department of Community Safety and $4.2 million to hire 50 new KCMO Police Department officers, along with 10 call takers and 10 dispatchers.

“Our budget respects the strong fiscal foundation the taxpayers have helped Kansas City build, maintaining a rainy-day fund of over $200 million, increasing road resurfacing, hiring more public safety and city workers, and investing in all Kansas City neighborhoods,” Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a news release from the city. “In a city that can walk and chew gum, we are proud to welcome the world while delivering strong basic services for Kansas City’s families.”

The council voted to spend $83.8 million for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to provide bus services, but the KCATA may have to make cuts in bus services even with a $6 million boost in funding from the city.

In addition, the council approved spending $39.4 million for citywide street resurfacing and $1.5 million for tearing down dangerous buildings.

“This budget reflects a collaborative effort across the city, and provides a clear path for Kansas City to keep moving forward with discipline, accountability and a focus on service,” City Manager Mario Vasquez said in the news release. “Thank you to the council for its thoughtful deliberation and input in crafting this budget.”

More information on the fiscal year 2026-27 budget can be found on the city’s website.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 25, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at March 25, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 25 drawing

07-21-55-56-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 25 drawing

Midday: 3-2-0

Midday Wild: 7

Evening: 0-0-5

Evening Wild: 5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 25 drawing

Midday: 2-6-3-9

Midday Wild: 4

Evening: 9-5-6-8

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 25 drawing

Early Bird: 07

Morning: 09

Matinee: 04

Prime Time: 14

Night Owl: 07

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 25 drawing

12-14-22-26-28

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 25 drawing

35-38-41-43-62, Powerball: 08

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

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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