WGEM: Missouri Senate passes resolution to fortify constitution against citizen changes

Benjamin Singer leads the organization Show Me Integrity, a bipartisan coalition that’s fighting the proposed changes to the IP process.

“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.

Former finance director for Gov. John Ashcroft and former Mayor of Chesterfield Fred Steinbach is also strongly opposed to the idea of making the IP process more difficult.

“I believe that this is an issue that is taking away the freedom of the people and taking away from one vote one person,” said Steinbach. “I think they are wrong on this issue and I am very frustrated by the fact that they’re trying to trick the people.”

Steinbach referenced a set of provisions that were stacked at the beginning of the IP resolution, including a ban on non-citizens voting – and a ban on foreign contributions to campaigns.

Because those two prohibitions are already in state and federal law, Steinbach and others have called those provisions “ballot candy,” a term which describes a non-controversial provision added to a less-popular one in order to make a resolution appear more attractive to voters.

“If you do want to drain the swamp, you need to get rid of the people who are trying to prevent the voters from having their say,” Steinbach said. “It’s unfortunate that lobbyists who have access to our elected officials, more so than an individual voter, will try to overly influence that voter and that’s a bad thing.”

“They are actually making the swamp worse, with this deceptive and illegal proposal to concentrate power in politicians hands, we need to stop this attack by the legislature and protect majority rule,” Singer said.

The IP Resolution will now head to the Missouri House of Representatives, which has passed a version of the policy each of the last several sessions.

Watch the full story on WGEM.com, KFVS12.com, KY3.com, or your local station.