Fred Steinbach, a former finance director for Gov. John Ashcroft and member of Conservatives Against Corruption [a project of Show Me Integrity], said … “It’s a power grab. I think that the politicians and the special interests of Missouri are trying to thwart the will of the people. They’re trying to fool the will of the people. They’re trying to throw ballot candy onto an issue to make it possible to pass.”

The resolution has been heavily criticized by pro-democracy groups, including organizations like Show Me Integrity and Conservatives Against Corruption.

“Politicians and special interests in Jefferson City are trying to take away majority rule and have an attack on the people’s power to hold our leaders accountable through the initiative petition process,” Singer said.

[T]here have been quite a few eyebrow-raising purchases in the last year, according to Benjamin Singer, the CEO of Show Me Integrity.

“Keeping track of your receipts when you’re spending your employer’s money is something we’re all used to doing for our jobs. If we’re spending our employer’s money, that’s even more important when it’s the taxpayers, the citizens, the voters of St. Louis, who these department heads are working for,” he said.

Daniel Romine works with Conservatives Against Corruption and says Missouri Republicans are actively trying to roll back an important right of citizens.

“We have extremist politicians that feel like their bully pulpit is threatened when people are governing the laws. And these hearings are meant to figure ways to diminish the voice of the people,” said Daniel Romine, a board member of Show Me Integrity.

“We congratulate Gabe Gore, one of our supporters, and wish him luck turning the ship around,” said Benjamin Singer, CEO of Show Me Integrity, a cross-partisan organization aiming to reform Missouri politics.

Candidates in two-person races for city offices could skip a primary and run only in the general election under a plan to be submitted Thursday to the Board of Aldermen.

Four people active in the campaign to pass the “approval voting” measure in 2020 issued a statement Wednesday applauding Clark Hubbard “for proposing a common-sense approach” but stopped short of endorsing the change.
“We look forward to continuing the conversation with the Board of Aldermen on any changes, including potentially sending this to a vote of the people,” they said.

Among the four were representatives of Show Me Integrity, St. Louis Approves and the League of Women Voters’ St. Louis city unit.